John Oti Bless, Chairman of Parliament’s Sanitation and Water Resources Committee, has called for the resignation of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over what he describes as the government’s failure to combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
In 2017, President Akufo-Addo made a firm commitment to crack down on galamsey, even stating that he was putting his presidency on the line. Despite this, the issue persists, with water bodies across the country still heavily polluted by illegal mining activities. This has prompted renewed calls from various stakeholders urging the government to take decisive action.
Speaking in an interview with Citi News, Oti Bless, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North, criticized the president for his perceived inaction on the matter. “If you recall, the president promised that he was going to put his presidency on the line if galamsey was not curtailed,” he remarked. “So it is up to you, the media, to invite him again, call on him again, and ask him. Like you said, you were putting your presidency on the line.”
Oti Bless further expressed concern over the worsening situation, citing a World Bank report that warns Ghana may need to import water in the near future due to severe pollution. “So now that the issue is getting out of hand, it is escalating. I believe you read the World Bank report that says within a few years, Ghana has to import water,” he added.
He concluded by highlighting the irony of President Akufo-Addo’s background as a human rights lawyer, saying, “Akufo-Addo being a human rights lawyer and this thing happening under your nose is unpardonable.”
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