A former Lands and Natural Resources Minister is seeing “glimpses of sustainability” in the current fight against galamsey mining despite being unhappy with the citizens disregard for the country’s laws.
Inusah Fuseini said on Joy FM’s Ghana Connect programme, Friday, “Ghana’s laws are obeyed more in disobedience.”
“Don’t build on waterways we do; don’t sell on pavements they sell; don’t engage in illegal mining, we do and when you take action, they say I won’t vote for you,” the minister under the erstwhile John Mahama government lamented.
He however commended his successor John Peter Amewu for his relentless effort in fighting against the canker that has fouled the environment, polluted water bodies, destroyed farmlands and rendered residents in many of these mining areas too vulnerable to diseases.
He was even more excited that some of the country’s paramount chiefs, like the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, and the Okyenhene Amoatia Ofori Panyin have decided to play a more prominent role in the fight against the canker.
Even though reports, including the national security intelligence, suggest some sub-chiefs are part of the galamsey activities, Inusah Fuseini said having the paramount chiefs as part of the anti-galamsey campaign means they can destool the sub-chiefs found culpable in the galamsey activities and that is important.
Russian Mine
The current Minister of Lands and Natural Resources John Peter Amewu who was also on the show disclosed that the mining company, Geo Professional Services (GPS) which is Russian owned has been shut down.
The shutdown follows the arrest of four Russians and Ukrainians last week by the minister and a joint military and police force.
According to Amewu, the mine, until its shutdown was 100% owned by the Russians, a development he found completely unacceptable.
He attributed that to a “total breakdown of law and order.”
Per Ghana’s laws foreigners are not supposed to engage in small-scale mining but in reality citizens of different countries, have in collaboration with local counterparts are owning and illegally operating many mining sites across the country.
A number of these foreign miners, including the all powerful Asia Huang popularly called Aisha or the galamsey queen have been arrested and are being prosecuted.
While describing the fight against galamsey as challenging, the minister believes with the continuous support from all Ghanaians the battle against galamsey will be won.
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