Professor of Finance and Economist at the University of Ghana, Prof Godfred Bokpin, has urged a national review of the Mahama administration's fight against illegal mining, known as galamsey. He stated that the government's interventions appear insufficient compared to the scale of destruction caused by the practice. Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile, Prof Bokpin emphasized the need to assess whether the government is meeting its set targets and objectives.
Prof Bokpin questioned the effectiveness of the government's approach, suggesting that progress is mainly measured by the number of arrests made and equipment seized. He argued that clear measures for assessing the government's performance are essential. According to him, the country needs to establish whether the government's efforts are yielding measurable progress towards ending illegal mining.
With President John Mahama having spent over a year and a half in office, Prof Bokpin believes it is time for a comprehensive national assessment of the government's efforts. He asked whether the interventions introduced so far are sufficient to address the problem. The economist also suggested that the resources and efforts deployed by the government may not match the scale of environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.
Prof Bokpin expressed concerns that the current response is far below what is required to tackle the crisis. He emphasized that the State itself could be contributing to the persistence of galamsey, making it difficult to mobilize the level of national action needed to address the threat. According to him, the State may be playing a facilitating role in the illegal mining problem.
The Professor of Finance and Economist at the University of Ghana argued that a national review would help determine whether the country is on track and whether the interventions are sufficient. He questioned whether the government's difficulty in mounting a stronger response could be linked to the role of State institutions and officials in the illegal mining problem.
Prof Bokpin's call for a national review comes as the government continues to face criticism for its handling of the galamsey issue. The issue has been a major concern for the government, with many Ghanaians calling for more effective measures to address the problem. The government's efforts to combat galamsey have included arrests and seizures of mining equipment.
The national review, according to Prof Bokpin, will enable the government to take stock of its efforts and make necessary adjustments to address the problem effectively. The review will also provide an opportunity for the government to assess its targets and objectives and make changes to its strategy as needed.
Key points
- Prof Bokpin calls for a national review of the Mahama administration's fight against galamsey.
- The review aims to assess the effectiveness of the government's interventions.
- Prof Bokpin questions whether the government's efforts match the scale of destruction caused by galamsey.
