Solve galamsey menace as promised – Ali Sabiku tells govt

A member of the NPP communication team in the Biakoye Constituency, Ali Sabiku, has challenged the government to implement the anti-illegal mining (galamsey) measures it promised while in opposition, insisting that Ghanaians are still waiting for those commitments to be honoured.

Speaking on the Bubune Breakfast Show anchored by Nana Yaw Asiamah, Mr. Sabiku argued that the government does not need fresh proposals to combat illegal mining because it already convinced the electorate that it had practical solutions before winning power.

"The current government, when it was in opposition, presented numerous policies on how they would fight galamsey. Ghanaians listened, believed them, voted for them, and they won the election. They should simply implement those policies," he said.

When the host asked whether he had any new recommendations to help curb the illegal mining menace, Mr. Sabiku responded that the government's own proposals remain the best roadmap.

"I support the plans they themselves laid out to fight galamsey. If those plans had been implemented, this issue would have been resolved long ago. That is why I keep encouraging them to put those promises into practice and bring this problem to an end," he stated.

According to him, his comments should not be interpreted as a refusal to offer suggestions, stressing that the government's campaign promises already contained the solutions Ghanaians endorsed at the polls.

"Don't say I can't suggest anything. What they proposed is what we all accepted. The majority of Ghanaians voted for them because of those promises. They should take those same proposals and implement them," he emphasized.

Mr. Sabiku also recalled that while in opposition, the governing party repeatedly called on the previous administration to declare a State of Emergency to tackle illegal mining.

"They said Akufo-Addo should declare a State of Emergency because of galamsey. Today they are in government and have the constitutional authority to do exactly that. If they believed it was the solution then, they should implement it now," he argued.

He maintained that Ghanaians are prepared to support any genuine effort by the government to eliminate illegal mining, provided it reflects the commitments made before assuming office.

"Let them declare the State of Emergency and implement every other measure they promised. If they succeed, all of us will support them. But they must first fulfil the promises they made to the Ghanaian people," he added.