I support calls for people to be held liable for galamsey – Egyapa Mercer

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 illegal small scale mining (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.”

He further called for depolitisation of the fight against the elicit small mining trade.

For his part, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central Ibrahim Murtala asked the government to halt small scale mining for a while in order to deal with the illegal ones among them.

He further stated that President Akufo-Addo should resign because put his presidency on the line with the fight against galamsey.

“In a serious country [President Akufo-Addo] should no longer be president of Ghana,” he said on the same show.

President Akufo-Addo said he was putting his presidency on the line over galamsey. From all indications he has failed in that direction therefore, he should step down, Murtala explained.

He further intimated that the government must demonstrate enough commitment to depoliticize the fight against the practice.

In his view, the fight has been politicized.