Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources has described Akufo-Addo’s fight against galamsey as a failure.
Addressing the Appointment Committee during his vetting on Monday, January 27, he acknowledged that the fight started on a good note but at the end of the former President’s tenure, the results showed how failed the fight was.
“It’s true the NPP administration started very well, there was a ban on mining places, it was six months, and it extended to nine months,” he Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
“But at the end of the 8 years, the outcome is what we all know—degraded lands, polluted water bodies, and wanton destruction of forest reserves. These are clearly facts that indicate that that fight against was a failure.”
He used the opportunity to assure the committee of combating galamsey, irrespective of political ties or affiliations.
According to him, the government is committed to ending the menace that continues to plague the country’s natural resources.
“We in opposition were very strong on the issue of illegal mining, and as Minister, I pledge to stand with the people of Ghana to fight this menace. It doesn’t matter your status or your political correlation. If you want to engage in mining, there are legal processes for obtaining licenses, and we will ensure that these processes are followed,” he stated.
“One of the key interventions we will implement is a new and transparent approach to community engagement. The people in mining areas must understand that the destiny of their communities—their river bodies and forests—rests in their hands. We will empower and respect them, ensuring they become active stakeholders in this fight”.