Government told to admit failure in galamsey fight

The Chairman of the Kumasi Presbytery of the Global Evangelical Church has asked the government to admit its failure in the fight against illegal mining.

Rev. Dr. Smith Francis Korbla Tettey says evidence available to Ghanaians in the form of destruction of the environment, including water bodies does not support the claim that the Nana Addo-led government is on course to fight the illegal mining menace.

“They are not on course. They should prove to Ghanaians. Look at the rivers; the colour of the waters. If they are on course, they should prove to Ghanaians,” he said.

The government has launched several campaigns to fight illegal mining operations which have degraded several hectares of virgin lands and forests and destroyed water bodies.

Operation Vanguard, Operation Halt and Galamstop are just a few of military-police teams tasked to end the menace.

This was after President Akufo-Addo promised to put his Presidency on the line to end galamsey.

But years into the campaigns, water bodies such as Pra, Offin, Ankobra and Tano are turning murkier every day.

A report by former Minister of Environment, Prof Frimpong Boateng, detailing the involvement of high-level government activists in illegal mining has been countered by the government.

But speaking at the ongoing Kumasi Presbytery Representative Conference of the Global Evangelical Church, Rev. Dr. Smith Francis Korbla Tettey chastised the government for pretending to solve the galamsey menace.

“If you tell us that you are on top of solving a problem and the problem is all over – our cocoa farms have been destroyed by this galamsey thing. If they are on top of it, we should see changes but we are not seeing any change. The situation is worsening day-in, day-out. I doubt what they are saying. It is just a political talk”.

For Reverend Dr. Tettey, Ghanaians are already aware of the devastating effects of illegal mining found in water bodies and devastated lands.

“They are not solving the problem. They are only pretending they are solving it.”

Speaking on responsible citizenship, Rev. Tettey observed the lack of a sense of responsibility among Ghanaians, including some ministers of the gospel which has led to the destruction of the environment, and created dishonest leadership.

Source: myjoyonline.com