Effia MP, Isaac Boamah-Nyarko Esq., has taken a swipe at President John Dramani Mahama over his handling of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In an interview on Starr Chat with Bola Ray on Starr 103.5 FM on Thursday, October 2, the legislator said the President’s approach to safeguarding the environment has been disappointing.
“On the economy, I will admit he started well, and there are some good signs,” Boamah-Nyarko said. “But when it comes to our commitment to protect the environment and this fight against the illegal menace, which is galamsey, he has fallen flat, completely failed.”
The MP argued that while President Mahama deserves some credit for tackling economic leakages in his first year, his inability to clamp down on galamsey undermines the overall progress. “We didn’t vote for an average president. If after nine months you are at 5 over 10, then the likelihood is that by the second or third year you may even drop lower,” he cautioned.
He also dismissed claims that the President’s task forces had made significant impact, pointing to widespread reports that illegal mining activities continue to thrive despite interventions. “The evidence is clear on the ground, and Ghanaians are the best judges of this failure,” he added.
Boamah-Nyarko further accused the government of creating cosmetic solutions that do not address the root cause of the menace. He said the deployment of so-called “blue guard” task forces had not yielded results, adding that there were even disturbing reports of misconduct within the ranks. “If you check the records, you will realise these task forces have rather been compromised instead of fighting the problem,” he noted.
According to the Effia MP, the fight against galamsey requires strong leadership and political will. “It is about showing commitment and courage. If President Mahama cannot demonstrate that, then we will continue to lose our water bodies and destroy the future of our children,” he stressed.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
