Anti-corruption campaigner and freelance investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has emphasized that any President who is committed to the fight against small scale illegal mining (galamsey) would sack Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) of jurisdictions that the illegal mining is festering on.
His suggestion comes in the wake of the resurgence in galamsey in spite of government’s effort to stamp out the practice through various initiatives such as the Operation Vanguard.
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government upon assuming the reins of power promised to fight galamsey which is fast destroying the environment.
But three years on, reports abound about the upsurge in galamsey that has led to the pollution of water bodies which are a source of potable water for hundreds of people. The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has complained that it has had to spend more in treating the polluted water due to high turbidity levels as a result of galamsey activities.
In the view of Mr Azure Awuni the inability of the President to sack MMDCEs who permit galamsey under their jurisdiction shows a lack of seriousness against the fight.
“Any president serious about fighting galamsey should fire any DCE or MCE in whose area there’s illegal mining. They will stop it!” He argued.
Meanwhile government has assured the citizenry it is committed to fight against the phenomen, and is taking renewed steps to continue the fight.
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