Eugene Boakye Antwi, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) member of parliament for Subin, has urged President Akufo-Addo to act decisively against public servants who have been unable to properly tackle the galamsey scourge.
His plea coincides with mounting dissatisfaction with the government’s unwillingness to stop illicit mining operations that have severely damaged the surrounding ecosystem and communities.
During a Thursday, October 3, interview with JoyNews, Mr. Antwi emphasized the negative effects of galamsey on the country’s rivers, forests, and farmlands.
He maintained that the livelihoods of many Ghanaians, especially those in rural areas who depend on these resources for their survival, are seriously threatened by the environment’s ongoing degradation.
The lawmaker’s words echo with the worries of many individuals who are becoming disillusioned with the government’s efforts to address the issue.
Mr. Antwi made it clear that some government employees had not only failed to carry out the laws as they were supposed to, but they had also permitted illicit mining enterprises to grow while they were in charge.
According to him, officials who fail to carry out their responsibilities must be held accountable for their inaction.
In order to rebuild public confidence and show that the President is genuinely committed to addressing the galamsey situation, the MP encouraged the President to take their removal into consideration.
“If we know who is conducting the illegal mining, whether they are party members or political opponents, let’s go in and arrest them and make them face the law. Because of the corrupt or unlawful positions of certain personnel, this party will benefit from being in government rather than opposition.”
“We will not condone it. I am an NPP supporter, and I will not sit here and condone an illegality. “Why should I come and support or defend something I haven’t participated in?” he insisted.
Other NPP MPs hold the opposite opinion to the Subin MP, arguing that addressing galamsey now will hurt the party’s chances of winning votes in the upcoming general elections.
