Give Zanetor free hand to fight galamsey – Acheampong Christian tells govt

Acheampong Christian, an NDC communicator in the Biakoye constituency, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to give Environment, Science and Technology Minister Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings a free hand to take decisive action against illegal mining and environmental destruction, warning that political interference could undermine her mandate.

According to Christian, Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings must not be restrained by political considerations or pressure from individuals with interests in illegal mining if she is to make a meaningful impact in the fight against galamsey.

Speaking on the Bubunɛ Morning Show, hosted by Nana Yaw Asiamah, he said he had about “99 percent” confidence in the Minister and believed she had the courage and principles required to confront the country's environmental challenges.

He, however, cautioned that the Minister could be forced to reconsider her position if those who appointed her prevented her from implementing the measures she believed were necessary.

“Who among her people is greater than her superior?” Christian asked, arguing that President Mahama, who appointed Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings, should be the person to give her the necessary backing to perform her duties.

He said if the President remained committed to the fight against galamsey but members of his party or other political actors attempted to frustrate the Minister, she should continue with the fight.

However, if the instructions to abandon decisive action came directly from the President, Christian suggested that she could choose to leave rather than compromise her credibility.

“If the order comes from President Mahama himself, then if she chooses, she will leave the job behind,” he said.

Christian insisted that the fight against galamsey must not be viewed through partisan lenses.

He said whether an individual involved in environmentally destructive mining belongs to the governing party, the opposition or any other political grouping should not matter.

“Whether it is my party or another party, or any person involved, let us view that person as an enemy of the state,” he said.

He stressed that Ghana was not against mining itself, since the country needed to benefit from its mineral resources. The concern, he explained, was the manner in which some people were extracting those resources.

“Nobody is saying we shouldn't extract the natural resources God blessed us with. Rather, let us extract them the right way,” he stated.

He therefore called on all persons who wish to engage in mining to obtain the necessary permits, operate within approved concessions and use the appropriate machinery and technical expertise.

Christian further argued that individuals who have provided financial support to political parties should not receive preferential treatment when they engage in mining.

He said political financing should not become a basis for allowing individuals to destroy Ghana's forests, rivers and farmlands.

According to him, anyone who wants to mine must comply with the same rules regardless of their political connections.

He also urged President Mahama to ensure that Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings has the institutional backing required to enforce environmental regulations.

Christian recalled the difficulties encountered by former Environment Minister Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng during his efforts to tackle galamsey and warned against a situation where the current Minister would be left to fight alone.

While illegal mining remains a major environmental concern, Christian said Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings should also make Ghana's plastic waste crisis a priority.

He expressed concern about the widespread use of thin plastic bags in markets, where almost every item—from tomatoes and onions to okra, garden eggs and garlic—is packaged in plastic.

He said the practice had contributed significantly to the accumulation of plastic waste and called for stronger measures to address the problem.

He also raised concerns about the practice of putting hot food directly into plastic bags, arguing that the country needs to rethink its dependence on plastics.

Christian linked the country's environmental degradation to changing weather patterns and said farmers were increasingly struggling to predict the seasons.

He recalled a time when farmers could broadly rely on established rainy and dry seasons to plan their farming activities.

Today, he said, that predictability has diminished because of deforestation, illegal mining and the destruction of water bodies.

He warned that the consequences would eventually affect every Ghanaian, including people living far away from mining communities.

Christian also called on chiefs and local communities to take greater responsibility for mining activities on their lands.

He said traditional authorities should not simply accept claims from individuals who arrive in communities saying they have received permission “from above” to mine.

Instead, he urged chiefs to contact the appropriate government institutions to verify the authenticity of mining permits and establish the conditions attached to them.

They should also determine whether the operators have the appropriate machinery, qualified personnel and plans to reclaim the land after mining.

He warned traditional authorities against accepting large sums of money from miners while ignoring the long-term consequences for their communities.

“The money will run out, but for decades to come, you and the generations after you will be left living on ruined land,” he cautioned.

Christian ultimately called for a united national effort to protect Ghana's forests, water bodies and farmlands, arguing that the fight against galamsey must transcend political party interests.

He said Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings should therefore be encouraged to take bold and decisive steps to protect Ghana's environment and should be judged by the results of the actions she takes.

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