Flagbearer of National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has warned potential Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and Ministers in the next NDC government to choose between public office and illegal mining (galamsey).
He said any person who will serve in his government and still want to be a small-scale miner should focus on his mining and leave the public office since his next administration will ot tolerate such activities.
During a media engagement on Sunday, July 7, 2024, former president Mahama indicated that Ghana has laws that prevent galamsey activities in the country but the enforcement has become a problem in the country because DCE’s and Ministers have small scale concession
“Galamsey is a problem of compliance, we have all the laws, we have everything, it is the enforcement that is the problem. And enforcement is the problem because those who should be enforcing it are part of the problem. Today, DCE’s and Ministers all have small scale concessions and that is why I said, any person who will serve in my government, if you want to be a small scale gold miner, go and be a small scale gold miner, don’t take public office under my administration.” Mr. Mahama said.
According to him, the NDC government will not entertain any of their ministers or political appointees involved in small scale gold mining so that we can enforce the laws properly.
He emphasized the need to open offices of all the agencies that oversee the mining sector such as EPA and Minerals Commission in the districts where they are doing illegal mining so that they can enforce the laws properly.
“We are not going to countenance any of our ministers or political appointees involved in small scale gold mining so that we can enforce the laws properly. We know the district where galamsey takes place, we will open an office of all the agencies that oversee the mining sector in those districts.” He added
“There must be a Minerals Commission Offices in every district where galamsey is taking place so that enforcement and compliance can be right at the door steps of the industry in the particular district. The Environmental Protection Agency, there must be an EPA office in every district where mining is taking place.” Mahama emphasized.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
