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Ghanaian leader Akufo-Addo has said his administration’s position on illegal small scale mining, known as ‘Galamsey,’ remains the same despite concerns his administration has failed in the fight against the menace.
Mr Akufo-Addo in 2018 announced a ban on all forms of illegal mining and further rolled-out series of programmes to enforce the ban and reclaim the country’s destroyed vegetation.
His main opponent former President John Mahama has long accused him of selective justice following the release of Aisha Huang, a Chinese national who was standing trial in a court in Accra for illegal mining.
Mr Mahama at one of his campaign addresses promised to free Ghanaians who have been imprisoned as a result of illegal mining and further assures their seized equipment would be returned to them when elected President on December 7.
But addressing the chiefs and people of Manso/Nkwanta as part of his campaign tour of the Ashanti Region, the President said the government is rolling out a new community mining policy that seeks to protect the environment.
He thus urged those involved in mining not to listen to the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama.
President Akufo-Addo insisted Mr Mahama does not understand the government’s plans for improving the activities of galamsey in the country.
“Our forefathers engaged in the activities of mining in a way that didn’t degrade the land because if they had done that, we (current generation) wouldn’t have come to meet the lands, rivers and other resources. So if we are also going to engage in mining activities, we should do it in a way that will preserve same.”
“That is what I said and I still stand by it, and I am not changing my mind on it. We are coming up with policies that will make mining in the country better which is the community mining, which will not collapse the jobs of those involved in it. Don’t listen to someone (Mahama) who knows nothing about what we are doing and is just on a promising spree.”
Source: Daily Mail Gh
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