Excavators were the 3rd largest import in 2023 – Murtala alleges state support for galamsey by previous govt

The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, has alleged that illegal mining activities heightened under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration because there was state support for the practice.

He premised his allegation on information available to him to the effect that more excavators were imported into the country under the immediate past New Patriotic Party (NPP) government than any other.

“During the fiscal year 2023, the 3rd largest item imported into the country was excavators. This number was not commensurate with the level of construction work in the country. It means there was state support for galamsey,” he alleged while contributing to discussions on TV3’s The KeyPoints on April 5.

The topic for discussion was how the fight against galamsey has fared.

Murtala Mohammed said unlike the previous government, President John Mahama’s administration is committed to ending the illegal mining menace.

He assured that President Mahama will not hesitate to dismiss and cause the arrest of any of his appointees or party members if they are found to have engaged in galamsey.

“President Mahama has demonstrated that he has no difficulty punishing persons close to him who engage in illegality. Look at the Abuga Peele case. We all know how close they were, but President Mahama allowed him to be prosecuted,” he cited.

Touching on calls for a declaration of a state of emergency in illegal mining areas, the Minister said the President will do so when the time is right.

He disclosed that President John Mahama is in discussions with the security agencies on whether or not to declare a state of emergency in illegal mining areas.

Therefore, once the security agencies advise the President to declare a state of emergency, he will not hesitate to do so.

“The President is engaging the security services. When it is time to declare a state of emergency, President Mahama will not blink,” he said.

His comment was in reaction to repeated calls by many stakeholders for a state of emergency to be declared in areas where illegal mining is taking place.

The call was repeated by his co-panelists, Dr Ken Ashigbey and Prof Ransford Gyampo. They contend that a declaration of state of emergency will demonstrate some level seriousness on the part of government to curb the menace.

In response, the Environment Minister said, a declaration of state of emergency has far reaching consequences, hence the need to be cautious in resorting to it.

“Mining is done in communities. A state of emergency will affect the livelihoods of the residents,” he said.

The post Excavators were the 3rd largest import in 2023 – Murtala alleges state support for galamsey by previous govt first appeared on 3News.

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