Galamsey [Illegal Mining] Is State Sponsored “The NPP Government Lacks Political Will To Fight It”

The governing New Patriotic Party [NPP] lacks political will to fight Galamsey because “Galamsey” activity in Ghana is “State Sponsored” and crime against humanity perpetrated against the good people of Ghana. Excerpts from Prof. Frimpong Boateng, the former Minister of Environment, Science and Technology Report on Galamsey suggests that Party functionaries at the corridors of power are involved in illegal mining activities and that it will only take a political will by the President Nana Akuffo Addo, Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces to bring the menace to the chief end. But the posture of the ruling government especially the President informs that the ruling NPP government is not ready to exercise that political will to fight Galamsey because the party thinks otherwise that fighting Galamsey now could send NPP to opposition in the upcoming general elections.

So, in the wisdom of the NPP functionaries, it will be better for Ghanaians to die than for the Party to lose the 2024 general elections so the quest to fight illegal mining is a non-started because they control the industry and are benefitting financially to finance the NPP Campaign to “break the so called 8”. If that is not the reason, why has the President who promised to put his Presidency on the line to fight illegal mining through “Operation Vanguard”, has failed to crack the whip and has rendered the entire operations to an exercise in futility. People are contracting kidney diseases and cancers whiles some are dying as results of polluted water bodies by Galamseyers which serves as drinking water to those who reside in Galamsey communities. Many farm lands have been destroyed and forest reserves depleted as results of illegal mining in the forest reserves. This clearly demonstrates that the NPP government has prioritized winning elections over death of innocent citizens. Thus, to fight the Galamsey menace, it is imperative for Ghanaians to note that as results of political expediencies, the NPP government can never fight Galamsey so, the need for Ghanaians to vote for change in the upcoming December general elections is clarion call in order to reset the agenda to fight this canker that has brought the entire state of Ghana on its knees..

To justify this, it is scary that data from Mining Repository suggest that since 2017, over 1500+ licenses have been issued to mining companies in the small scale industry unlike about 98 that were issued till 2016.This means that the NPP government has prioritize mining activities over the consequences of Galamsey. Many of these license holders are those who are involved in mining in the forest reserves and river bodies. Further, it is important to note that majority of mining concessions in Ghana are located in NPP strongholds reasons why the NPP government cannot fight the menace even though the president, Nana Akuffo Addo promised Ghanaians that he will put his job on the line to fight Galamsey. A promise he had swept under the carpet because he does not want to step on the toes of his party stalwarts who are deeply rooted in Galamsey business.

Several evidences adduced indict many NPP stalwarts involvement in Galamsey business. Hon. Mereku Duker, NPP MP for Tarkwa, Chairman Wuntumi, Ashanti Regional Chairman of NPP, Ekow Ewusie, and an aspiring MP for the NPP in western region who with impunity, incited Galamseyers to charge on the police and any security personnel that comes after them and many others of same Party are Galamsey Kinpins at different jurisdiction destroying our water bodies and forest reserves. Furthermore, the allegation that the Vice President Dr. Bawumia owns a Galamsey concession on the Dunkwa-Obuasi stretch which he not denied, speaks volume of the lack of political will by the NPP to fight Galamsey which is an existential threat to livelihood of Ghanaians and National Security threat. According to the Ghana Water Company Limited, if care is not taken to crush Galamsey activities, Ghana will import water by 2030. This could be very devastating to the livelihood of Ghanaians and society at large because it will be a National Security threat.

Regardless of the sensitivity of the situation at hand, some NPP surrogates and party functionaries are defending the practice in disguise. What is even nauseating is that, even when the President is meeting Organized Labour to abridge the time for a nationwide strike, licenses are being issued for companies to carry out mining activities. So, Labour meeting with the President is entirely needless except to strike. Reports reveals that about 11 licenses have been issued since October 3 at the same period when the entire nation is calling on the President to declare “State of Emergency” in order crush Galamsey in Ghana. This means that the quest to mine in our water bodies and forest reserves is state sponsored since Mineral Commission continues to issue licenses. This is reckless governance. During, the Ghana Journalist Association Annual Awards, the organization sort the indulgence of the President, Nana Akuffo Addo to fight the menace with political will it deserves. In his speech, the President who was the special guest of honour never mentioned anything about Galamsey raising concerns about his zeal to fight it by prioritizing human life, safety and dignity over political power.

The Ghana Armed Forces to which the President is the Commander in Chief and the Ghana Police Service seem to be a Political Institution other than a State Institution working for the good of Ghanaians. This is because they both form the strength of Operation Vanguard and their failure to fight Galamsey with all the huge investments made towards the fight against Galamsey is complicit. It is alleged that $3m drones procured to fight Galamsey are missing, 500 Excavators seized by operation vanguards are nowhere to be found.In2019, the World Bank gave Ghana about $48M to fight Galamsey and the result is what we are seeing today. So it could be suspected that the 500 excavators seized from small scale miners in 2017 were given to NPP Galamsey cartel to mine which has destroyed our water bodies and forest reserves.

As reported, many are dying through terminal ailments as results of poisoned water from Galamsey activities in mining communities. The Ghana Water stock is depleting by day and whiles citizens are dying, others are living with deformation, defects and with terminal ailments. The Ghana Police service under the IGP Dr. Dampare has become a laughing stock and if care is not taken, he will go down as the worst IGP of Ghana since independence because in my candid opinion, he has failed to exhibit professionalism, service with integrity as the motto of the Ghana Police Service Suggest in the discharge of his duties in recent times. He is arresting and prosecuting demonstrators against Galamsey instead of fighting Galamsey. The recent arrest and illegal detention of innocent citizens of the Democratic Hub, without right to Counsel, stampedes on their personal liberties and a violation of their fundamental human rights as protestors. Bystanders were also arrested as well as a Juvenile and a pregnant woman. That notwithstanding, it is right and abundant duty for the police to arrest protestors in violation of the Public Order Act but denying them right to Counsel, food, water, detaining them over 48 hrs and being taken to court to deny them bail, remand them for a misdemeanor offense, is affront to democratic principle of civil rights and liberties enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. So, the modus operandi used by the police to arrest protestors, some of whom are innocent is a clear violation of the fundamental rights of those arrested. This is an exercise of absolute power which should not happen under a democratic rule where the sitting President is a Human Right lawyer.

Galamsey is an existential threat and so, the Ghana Police should know better. If the police had used the same zeal it used to arrest and prosecute Demonstrators on Galamsey fight, Ghana would have been a better place other than what we see today. The Ghana Police is therefore, complicit in the fight against illegal mining because of its failure to enforce the criminal Laws on environmental degradation but rather going after innocent citizens who are doing what Napoleon could not do—fighting against Galamsey. Those destroying our water bodies and forest reserves, destroying future generations are walking free whiles Demonstrators fighting against illegal miming have been remanded and languishing in jail. Therefore, one may suggest that the IGP and The Ghana Police Service have become too political and are protecting the state sponsored organized crime being perpetrated against the Ghanaian people by the NPP government whiles innocent citizens are being thrown to jail. The IGP as suggested, could be doing the bidding of the government, overlooking the threat Galamsey activities poses to the livelihood of Ghanaians and National Security in order to keep his job.

In the light of the above narrative, Organized Labour and CSOs, Clergy, Members of Parliament, Media, Opinion Leaders, Chieftaincy institutions, Academia, Democratic institutions should intensify the protest to get the President declare a State of Emergency to fight against the Galamsey menace whiles all the demands made by Organized Labour be met by the government. The Government declaring SOE will demonstrate its commitment to fight the menace to core. The call by the President to Organised Labour to abridge the time for its intended strike is a slap on the face of Ghanaians who are calling for the end of Galamsey. Organized Labour should know that Sovereignty emanates from the people and it is exercised according to the will of the people. So, Organized Labour represents the interest and will of the Ghanaian people who are major stakeholders in the existence of Organized Labour hence, they are the voice for the voiceless therefore, the call by the President is too late. Any attempt by the NPP government to coerce Organized Labour to rescind its decision to strike could weaken the Labour Front forever and throw its advocacy into an abyss and weakened state of disarray. This will erode the trust and confidence Ghanaians have reposed in Organized Labour as their voice. Therefore, Organized Labour should go ahead to strike till the President declares a SOE government to strikes on Galamsey activities and bring it to an end as soon as practicable. The same zeal Organized Labour used to stop SNNIT from selling its properties to a cabinet minister, the same zeal should be used to fight Galamsey. So, the request of the President should be an afterthought and should be treated with the contempt it deserves.

To conclude, I posit that the whole mantra of Galamsey [Illegal Mining] is a State-Sponsored crime against the Ghanaian people to which the President, Vice President, NPP Party functionaries as well as the Ghana Police and the Ghana Armed Forces are complicit meaning; the NPP government lacks political will to fight this canker. For which reason, it is incumbent on Ghanaians to vote for change in the upcoming December general elections to enable the Next government to fight Galamsey to the latter. The continuous stay of NPP government in power could jeopardize the zeal to fight against Galamsey which has destroyed our water bodies and forest reserves. Galamsey is a threat to livelihood and human dignity. It is a threat to National Security because water is life. Thus, I urge the “voices of conscience” and the Ghanaian people whose livelihood and dignity are under threat to rise up to the occasion to add their voices to the fight against Galamsey whatever means possible. Organized Labour owes Ghanaians the obligation to lead this charge.

The Protest should continue. Aluta Continua!!

BY: MICHAEL RICHMOND SMART-ABBEY, PHD [POLITICAL & PUBLIC POLICY ANALYST, GOVERNANCE AND SECURITY EXPERT, WRITER AND AUTHOR]

COLUMNIST: MODERN GHANA WEB, ICATV NEWS WEB AND EVENING TRIBUNE NEWS PAPER

[email protected]