Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, the Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore, has clarified his comments regarding the government’s position on small-scale mining, which have sparked significant backlash.
The controversy arose from a video recorded during a campaign event on September 27, suggesting that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government would not implement a ban on small-scale mining. Dr. Afriyie contends that his remarks were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
The video attracted widespread attention and condemnation from various advocacy groups calling for the government to take strong action against illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
These organizations emphasized the severe environmental damage associated with such practices.
In an interview with Eyewitness News on September 30, Dr. Afriye reiterated that his original comments had been misreported. He stressed the need to differentiate between responsible small-scale mining operations and those that are harmful to the environment.
“So, what the TV3 people did was that when I said we will not stop today or tomorrow, they actually truncated and doctored it out and then made it look like all I said was we are not doing anything about galamsey and we will not stop today or tomorrow. That is a misrepresentation, it actually put me out of context,” he stated.
“That is actually why many people will wonder if Ayew Afriye will stand on principle and as I am speaking with you I still stand on the basic principle that there are irresponsible small-scale mining and there are responsible small-scale mining. We cannot put a ban on small-scale mining, that is not fair.
“That is to say that in the southern belt, along the coast, in the river bodies and the Volta Lake people are doing irresponsible fishing. They use DDT, and dynamite and we are aware but the state agency is after the illegal ones does that mean that we would ban all fishing in the south? he added.
Meanwhile, organized labour is scheduled to meet on October 1, 2024, to decide on a course of action—either a nationwide strike or demonstration—following the government’s failure to address their demand for a total ban on all forms of small-scale mining as a means to combat illegal mining.
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