Dr Clement Apaak, the Deputy Minister-designate for Education, has acknowledged that his past remarks criticising the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration’s handling of illegal mining, known as galamsey, were overly harsh.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Dr Apaak admitted that, in hindsight, his comments were “too hard” and excessive.
His initial criticism, made on social media ahead of the 2024 general elections, accused the government of enabling illegal mining and benefiting from the practice.
During the vetting, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin referred to the remarks and asked Dr Apaak to clarify his stance.
In response, Dr Apaak acknowledged that his criticism may have been too broad.
“Given the context provided, it is only fair and appropriate that I concede that I was rather too excessive in blaming an entire government for the infractions of a few,” he stated.
He further expressed his willingness to take responsibility for his words, adding, “Given my responses so far, I would admit so.”
In a related development, the Deputy Minister for the Interior designate, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has cautioned against speculations about the future of Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare under the current government.
Public discussions have surrounded the IGP’s position since the new government took office, with some unidentified individuals and groups demanding his removal from office.
The issue also came up in Parliament during the vetting of Deputy Minister nominee for the Interior, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi on Monday, February 24.
Mr Terlabi advised the public to leave the decision regarding the IGP’s fate to President Mahama, stating that he wished he had the authority to make such a decision himself.
BY TIMES REPORTER
The post My galamsey criticism of Akufo-Addo’s govt was ‘too harsh’ – Apaak appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
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