The KPIs of MMDCEs should be tied to their ability to fight galamsey – Ken Ashigbey

Convenor, Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Dr Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey,  has said the Mahama administration must deal with the issue of illegal small-scale mining within two years.

He suggested to the government to tied  Key Performance Indicators of all the Metropolitan, Municipal, District and Chief Executives (MMDCEs)  to their ability to fight galamsey.

Speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, April 19, he said “The KPIs of our newly sworn-in MMDCEs should be tied to their ability to fight illegal mining. This administration must deal with this menace within two years.”

Also commenting on the same issue, CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo said activities of illegal small-scale mining are compromising the integrity of the Bui Dam.

He stated that this matter points to the seriousness of the matter that the country is dealing with. He expressed confidence in the ability of President John Dramani Mahama and the security agencies to deal with this matter.

“Bui Dam is getting compromised…this is a dam we used 600 million dollars to construct,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday April 19.

Mr Tameklo further said that the security agencies are working hard to deal with the illegal small-scale miners.

He observed that Ghanaians want more effort to nip the menace in the bud and assured that efforts are underway to address the matter.

“People want more, but I can tell you these people are not sleeping on the job,” he said.

He further expressed confidence in the ability and desire of President John Dramani Mahama to fight the illegal small-scale mining.

He noted that the current galamsey menace is a legacy issue that President Mahama is dealing with.

Speaking in relation to the community of foreigners engaged in galamsey, he said, “The Forestry Commission always knew about the existence of the settlement. I am absolutely confident that President Mahama will fight this, galamsey was terrible for the past 8 years.”

For his part, Convener of the One Ghana Movement, Senyo Hosi has said that Ghana is a failing state following the increasing rate of illegal small-scale mining.

He noted that galamsey must be dealt with very ruthlessly because armed galamseyers shoot at security officers.

He further called for an investigation into the circumstances where foreign nationals who are engaged in illegal small-scale mining created their own community.

Senyo Hosi says this is a national security threat that must be taken seriously.

He said on the same show that “It is a national security issue, are we really safe as a country that we actually have foreign nationals create their own communities? This is a very established community, totally unmapped, it is very scary. I think Ghanaians should be very concerned about what is going on.

“It is very scary that foreigners can infiltrate our country, create a community and their own community, and it is a disgrace. Investigate why national security allowed this to happen.

“Galamsey must be dealt with very ruthlessly because you have armed galamseyers shooting at security officers. We are a failing state, and the president must take this matter hold the bull by the horns, and not fail us.”

A joint team from the Forestry Commission in the Western Region and the Armed Forces stormed Abrewa Ninkrane, a notorious galamsey enclave across the Subri Forest Reserve.

The raid which occurred on Tuesday, April 15 dawn saw the task force set ablaze several makeshift camps used by illegal miners, many of whom are believed to be foreign nationals from Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

The move forms part of the effort to protect the Subri Forest Reserves from further destruction.

The Subri Forest Reserve had recently become a hotspot for illegal mining activities, rendering hundreds hectors of vegetation cover destroyed.

Nana Kwabena Bosompim, Western Regional Forestry Manager, in an interview after the operation, stated that the illegal miners had constructed fully functional hubs, including wooden brothels and makeshift shelters that served both as living spaces and business centres.

He cautioned illegal miners to desist from engaging in mining in reserved areas and water bodies or face the law.

He said the task force will be based in the community for the next two weeks to ensure that illegal miners do not return to the site.

“We are told young girls nowadays do not even want to go to school; they want to be here to make money from the prostitution business, and that is very bad. When we were coming, we estimated to meet 2000 miners, but today when we came here in the morning, we estimated more than 10,000 and we could not affect arrest because the number of people we are going to arrest will not even fit in our vehicle.

“We just had to raid the community and burn down the equipment and make sure everybody is flushed out. We are going to be here for the next two weeks and will make sure every illegal miner is raided from this community.

 

 

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