Mahama to lead an unprecedented fight against galamsey

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that President Mahama is set to embark on what he described as a ruthless and relentless fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey in the country.

According to him, the President’s message to the relevant stakeholders is unambiguous and emphatic: a head-on confrontation of the crisis that has degenerated into an existential threat against the country.

Speaking to journalist after a crunch cabinet meeting on Thursday, Ablakwa confirmed that President Mahama has emphasized his personal stake in the fight against galamsey, a canker that has plagued the country for decades.

“I can confirm to you that you are going to see a fight that has never been witnessed in this country, President Mahama is going to lead a very ruthless and relentless campaign against galamsey, he has not minced words at al.

“we had a brief cabinet meeting earlier today, and the President was very clear, there was no ambiguity, that he will be leading a war that we have never seen, to deal with this canker, this existential threat once and for all,” Ablakwa revealed

Earlier this week, Attorney-Genera Dr. Dominic Ayine also urged the entire nation to rally behind the government in its fight against galamsey, following the fatal military helicopter crash on August 6, which claimed the lives of 8 individuals who were en route to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), an initiative aimed at promoting responsible mining and equipping miners with sustainable skills.

“They died in the line of duty, the reason they were going for this ceremony was to make life better for the people of this country…illegal mining has destroyed our rivers, polluted our environment, it has made life unbearable for communities in and around mining areas,” he said.

“Sustainable mining is what we can do to develop this country, and the President is committed to it, the public officers who died were also committed to it, making sure that we have a mining system that will give us wealth without destroying our environment,” AG Ayine added.