Gov’t has politicized galamsey fight – Murtala

Member of Parliament for Tamale Central Ibrahim Murtala has accused the government of politicizing the fight against illegal small scale mining (Galamsey).

He asked the government to depolitcise the fight if all persons are to come on board to support in ending the menace.

Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed was speaking on the New Day show on TV3 Monday October 3.

As part of his suggestions in tackling the problem, he further asked the government to halt small scale mining for a while in order to deal with the illegal ones among them.

For his part, the Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer has said he supports calls for persons whose action and inaction have led to increasing rate of galamsey in the country, or are neck deep in the practice should be held accountable.

He stated that the laws do not permit people to engage in illegality hence he welcomes the calls for such persons to face the law.

Speaking on the New Day show on TV3  Monday October 3, while contributing to a discussion on the galamsey menace, he said “I support for the call for people to be held accountable.”

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor the fight against galamsey cannot be won if politicians and other stakeholders continue to act in ways that encourage the perpetrators, says

Arable lands and water bodies are still being destroyed by the activities of these miners despite investing hugely to end the menace.

Speaking at the 40th anniversary of Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Mr Jinapor observed the battle can only be won collectively.

“We will not make headway if natural resources managers, forest managers, security personnel, and other professionals connive with the very people against whom they are to enforce government policies and laws.

“It cannot be right for opposition political party leaders to say if voted in power, they will release all jailed illegal miners and allow them to mine. Likewise, it cannot be right if ruling party leaders put their political or economic fortunes ahead of this fight. This fight must be above partisan politics before it can be won”

The minister did not mince words in calling out traditional leaders and local authorities as accomplice in the menace.

“I come from a Palace and I can say without a shred of equivocation that in most cases, no one brings an excavator to mine in a forest or changfang to work on a river body in a community without the knowledge or passive approval of the chief, elders, opinion leaders, assemblymen and local authorities in the community. We have to begin to be blunt about this situation on our hands. It is the honest truth”.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu the second however disagrees with the blame of chiefs in illegal mining.

“The concession is given by the authorities in Accra, the chiefs don’t give concessions so there is little they can do about it. The chiefs will be there and people will bring documents saying they’ve been given the permission to mine. Who consulted the chief for him to even supervise the activity?

“The constitution says the minerals is being held in trust for the people by the President. So chiefs cannot do much about it”.

Meanwhile, the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources at KNUST has been tasked to come out with sustainable management of the country’s natural resources.

The Theme for the anniversary is “40 years of training natural resources managers: A new age for a new focus”.

The alumni plan to construct a 300-seater computer and GIS laboratory for the faculty as part of efforts to enhance training natural resource managers.