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Tag: Galamsey

  • NAPO Reaffirms NPP’s Commitment to Empowering Small-Scale Miners, Rejects Ban on Mining

    NAPO Reaffirms NPP’s Commitment to Empowering Small-Scale Miners, Rejects Ban on Mining

    Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, has reiterated that a future New Patriotic Party (NPP) government will not impose a ban on small-scale mining. Speaking at a campaign event in the Manso Adubia constituency in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday, Dr. Opoku Prempeh, who is the NPP’s Vice Presidential candidate, assured party supporters and community members of the party’s commitment to promoting responsible mining practices.

    He emphasized the importance of differentiating between responsible, regulated mining and illegal activities, or “galamsey,” which have caused severe environmental degradation and social harm. NAPO stated that the NPP’s strategy would focus on empowering small-scale miners to engage in sustainable practices that protect the environment while also expanding their operations for economic growth.

    “A government led by Dr. Bawumia will promote mining. We cannot stop mining, but we will do so responsibly. We will not mine to destroy our water bodies and forests,” Dr. Opoku Prempeh asserted.

    He also referenced promises made by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s flagbearer, to support responsible mining initiatives that will benefit local communities and contribute to the overall economy. NAPO highlighted that equipment needed for responsible mining would be made available to Ghanaians under an NPP government.

    His remarks come at a time of heightened tension, as Organised Labour prepares to embark on a nationwide strike starting Thursday, October 10, 2024. The strike, prompted by ongoing frustrations over the government’s handling of the illegal mining crisis, calls for stronger action against “galamsey” while supporting the formalisation of the small-scale mining sector.

    Organised Labour has advocated for a balanced approach to protecting the environment while ensuring that legitimate miners can operate without fear of harassment or shutdowns. The crisis surrounding illegal mining, which has wreaked havoc on Ghana’s water bodies and ecosystems, remains a major political issue ahead of the 2024 elections.

    Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s remarks signal the NPP’s commitment to promoting a mining policy that supports economic development and environmental sustainability.

  • Galamsey: GAF clears 230 platforms, 365 Changfans near Pra, Offin rivers

    Galamsey: GAF clears 230 platforms, 365 Changfans near Pra, Offin rivers

    GAF clears 230 platforms, 365 Changfans near Pra, Offin rivers

    The Ghana army, supported by the navy and air force, has, so far, cleared a total of 230 platforms and 365 change fans in illegal mining sites covering a total of 267 kilometers along and on the Pra and Offin rivers and their tributaries, as part of their activities to flush out illegal small-scale miners from some major river bodies and forest reserves in the Ashanti, Eastern, Western and Western North regions.

    Soldiers-fighting-galamsey

    Ejura murder probe SEE ALSO: Ejura murder probe: Committee makes 10 recommendations for government’s consideration

    Operation Halt II was re-activated in April this year and the army has continued to conduct follow-up surgical operations in targeted areas to sustain the campaign to rid river bodies of all illegal mining activities in the country.

    Areas along river Offin that have been cleared include Asma Camp, Denkira Foso, Badoa No.1 and 2, Kyekyewere, Buabenso, Akyempim, and Dunkwa.

    Soldiers-fighting-galamsey

    GAF, in a statement, noted that a total of 110 platforms and 185 Chang fan machines have been destroyed on river Offin, covering a distance of approximately 114 kilometers.

    Soldiers-fighting-galamsey

    The army has advised all persons engaged in illegal mining, especially along with the country’s river bodies and forest reserves, to desist from these criminal activities or risk being severely dealt with according to the laws of the nation.

    Shop@Torsaa

  • WASA AMENFI EAST MCE ASSAULTED ASONA FM JOURNALIST WHEN DOING A LIVE RADIO REPORT OVER ALLEGED GALAMSEY ISSUE

    WASA AMENFI EAST MCE ASSAULTED ASONA FM JOURNALIST WHEN DOING A LIVE RADIO REPORT OVER ALLEGED GALAMSEY ISSUE

    WASA AMENFI EAST MCE ASSAULTED ASONA FM JOURNALIST WHEN DOING A LIVE RADIO REPORT OVER ALLEGED GALAMSEY ISSUE

    The MCE for Wasa Amenfi East Municipal,Hon Ama Appiah has assaulted a journalist of Asona Fm,a local radio station based in Wasa Akropong in the Amenfi East Municipal of the Western Region.
    Aseda Louisa,a young female journalist, who was assigned to cover a demonstration organised by Wasa Nkakaa community against the traditional leaders of Wasa Akropong over land which they believed had been sold by the Nananom of Wasa Akropong to chinise, Nationals for mining activities, was assaulted while her phone was also forcely seized by the MCE when doing a live radio report.

    Hon Ama Appiah
    Hon Ama Appiah

    SEE ALSO: I was not part of the Fix the country demonstration- Maame Akua Donkor urged


    The MCE later ordered the police commander for Wasa Amenfi East,DSP Seth Oglo to delete pictures,videos and audios took by the journalist

    SHop@torsaa

  • A Complete Waste Of Resource

    A Complete Waste Of Resource

    GALAMSEY: A Complete Waste Of Resource and Time- Samson Samari

    SEE ALSO: EPA to Deal with Producers Over Illegal Operationshttp://EPA…

    An aide to Hon. Dr. Clement Apaak and a Communicator Team Member of the NDC Samson Samari Eliasu disclosed that, the forum on galamsey organized by the ministry of lands and natural resources on galamsey related activities was just a complete waste of state resources and patrons time.

    waste
    galamsey

    Samson went on emphasising that, what difference will the dialogue make after the same president kept his presidency on the line to fight galamsey and eventually failed and tried to defend his failure.

    “I attended a similar roundtable discussion on Monday, 11th February 2019 . The discussion was organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs, on the theme: “The Galamsey menace in Ghana, the way forward”. It was attended by high profile government officials of president Nana Addo’s government. They spoke their usual grammar and that ended it” Samson Narrated.

    waste
    samsom samari

    A Complete Waste Of Resource

    According to Samson, the Nana Addo’s government is not ready to admit their lackadaisical attitude and their complete failure towards the fight of the galamsey menace. There have been instances where secret recordings of government officials were leaked on their quest to make money for their party.

    “The president speech was just a direct indication of his unpreparedness to punish his appointees who are directly or indirectly involved in the galamsey activities” he said.

    However, To Samson, the Government should have used the forum to apologise to Ghanaians for its failure. Some government officials should have been answering questions from the general public about the whereabouts of the seized excavators, the dissolution of the inter ministerial taxforce, the military protection of some alleged galamsayers , the depotation of the Chinese galamsey queen, Aisha Yuang.

    waste
    galamsey

    A Complete Waste Of Resource

    He futher said that, until we are ready to name, shame and jail, president Nana Addo will continue to shield his appointees. What evidence does he need again after seized excavators vanished into thin air?

    Take action against appointees involved and not forums.

    “I remain a citizen and not a spectator” he concluded.

    Story by: Samson Samari Eliasu

  • My Stance On Galamsey Has Not Changed Despite Mahama’s Promises – Says Prez Akufo Addo

    My Stance On Galamsey Has Not Changed Despite Mahama’s Promises – Says Prez Akufo Addo

    President Akufo Addo says he will not relax the enforcement of the ban on illegal mining despite promises and criticisms by the largest opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC).

    The opposition party led by its flagbearer ex-President John Mahama has promised among other things to grant pardon to jailed illegal miners and release their seized excavators to them.

    Addressing a rally at Manso Nkwanta, a mining community in the Ashanti Region, President Akufo Addo said he’ll not bow to pressure to soften his stance on illegal miners.

    “I can turn a blind eye to activities that are destroying our natural resources and water bodies. I don’t have the power to say mining cannot be done in Ghana and I’ve not even said so. Our forefathers were into mining but they did not destroy the land as is being done now. That is what I’ve said and we are bringing in measures to streamline mining in the mining sector. Community mining is the way to go and my government is working to ensuring that we get it done. Nobody in the mining sector will lose their job, don’t listen to anybody who says when he comes galamsey will be done anyhow and uncontrolled.”

    President Akufo Addo announced the ban on illegal mining two years ago and further rolled out many measures to enforce the ban in a bid to reclaim degraded lands.

    Peacefmonline