The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, has called on Ghanaians to vote against the current government in the 2028 elections. He accused the government of encouraging illegal mining, known as galamsey, rather than taking decisive steps to end the menace. According to Gyamfi, the government's lack of commitment to fighting galamsey is due to some of its members being involved in the activity.
Most Rev. Gyamfi made these comments on Adom FM's Burning Issues. He emphasized that Ghanaians should not rely on the current administration to resolve the problem but must take responsibility for demanding a change in leadership. Voters must elect leaders who are prepared to honour their promises and introduce practical alternatives to address illegal mining. Gyamfi also urged Ghanaians to demand clear and workable plans from anyone seeking to lead the country.
The Public Relations Officer of the Small Scale Miners Association, Razak Alhassan, has questioned the government's approach to tackling illegal mining. He argued that members of the association who operate within the rules would have no reason to engage in confrontations with the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS). Alhassan maintained that his members follow the rules and have no issues with the task force.
Alhassan further questioned the need for NAIMOS to take the lead in removing illegal miners from forest reserves. He argued that Forestry Commission officers are already deployed to protect those areas and that NAIMOS' activities are not entirely new. Existing institutions already have responsibilities in the fight against illegal mining, according to Alhassan.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference is not the only group to express concerns about the government's handling of galamsey. The NDC's Anthony Nukpenu has also expressed concerns, stating that he is not happy with how the party has handled the issue. John Darko has rated the NDC government's fight against galamsey 1/10.
The issue of galamsey has significant implications for Ghana's environment and economy. The Catholic Bishops' Conference has urged Ghanaians to take responsibility for demanding a change in leadership. The 2028 election will provide voters with an opportunity to hold the current government accountable for its handling of the issue.
The government's approach to tackling galamsey has been criticized by various groups. The Catholic Bishops' Conference has called on voters to reject the NDC in the 2028 election due to its alleged role in encouraging illegal mining. The issue remains a significant challenge for Ghana's government and will likely continue to be a major topic of discussion in the lead-up to the 2028 election.
Key points
- The Catholic Bishops' Conference has urged Ghanaians to vote against the current government in the 2028 elections due to its alleged role in encouraging illegal mining.
