While I remain focused on serving the interest of shippers and playing my small role to help inch Ghana closer to the vision of President Mahama to bring down the cost of doing business, I have seen attempts at baiting me to speak up on a matter that evidence abounds to show that I have never been silent on. TV 3 Keypoint Recordings show that I have been consistent in my advocacy on the need for more drastic actions to be taken in fighting galamsey. Because they dont want peace, I will give them what they duly deserve in my views as expressed below:
1. I am appalled by the NPP’s sudden attempt to hijack the fight against Galamsey. For the past eight years, they have fuelled this menace. They actually passed laws to let people go mine in the forest, granted mining licenses at unprecedented levels to their cronies to empower them to destroy our lands and water bodies. Over 2,000 mining licenses were given in the the eight year period of their rule and this has never happened in the history of mining in Ghana, forcing the current Government to review and revoke many of them.
2. After doing all these, what credibility do they have on earth to even whisper in this fight. With all due respect, they sound smarter when they are quiet. The genuine fighters like the coalition against Galamsey, UTAG, the OneGhana Movement and others should be left to lead the advocacy and calls for more radical measures against Galamsey with the honour they deserve.
3. In stark contrast, the ruling NDC government has taken decisive action. The government has deployed the police to reclaim nine of our forest reserves and are repealing the evil law passed by the NPP that allowed people to mine in the forest. H.E the President has said if all he is doing doesn’t work, he will resort to state of emergency as last resort. He never said anywhere that he would ensure a state of emergency in the lead up to the 2024 elections. If the party that claims to be staffed with intellectuals can read, then they should take a thorough review of the 2024 manifesto of the ruling NDC to see whether it outlined a declaration of a state of emergency as part of the interventions outlined to address galamsey. Let them just go read!
4. As an individual, I still stand by my demand for a state of emergency as I believe that we must shut the tap causing flooding before we start moping the floor. I havent shied away from this belief and evidence abounds to show this. I can only continue to canvass my belief from within, so long as I have access to and hearing from my superiors and bosses and that’s what I remain committed to doing.
5. Let us recognize both the efforts already made and those currently underway in combating this menace. But given that the destruction of our very source of livelihood is still ongoing, let us make demands for more radical steps to be taken. But these demands must not be allowed to be dictated by very hypocritical self-serving partisan agents who just yesterday, foisted Galamsey on us and never believed in the fight against the menace.
6. Indeed, we cannot allow the fight to be led by self-seeking cabals who, just yesterday, actually looked into the faces of labour union leaders and told them they won’t ever fight Galamsey for the fear of losing elections, and mounted platforms to say that Galamsey has no health implications on Ghanaians, simply because to them, “party hia sika”, to wit, their party inordinately needed money because it was going to be handed a humiliating defeat in the 2024 elections.
7. Again, the fight against Galamsey cannot be allowed to be shaped by self-perpetuating ignoramuses who know nothing about governance, and who just yesterday, allegedly bribed some Union leaders to scuttle their pressure on government in their demands that the menace be confronted head-on, and allegedly sponsored the proliferation of unthinkable amorphous groupings within unions just to break their ranks in demanding for more action to be taken against Galamsey. What didn’t they do to their own respected Prof Frimpong Boateng for blowing the whistle on them for their galamsey activities? How about their response to the devastation of Akonta mining? Are these the ones talking to cheapen the conduct of the legitimate activity of politics?
8. For the avoidance of doubt, my commitment to the fight against Galamsey and support for the advocacy is unwavering, given the existential threat the menace poses to me and to all. But my approach as a member of Government rightly and responsibly must vary. I fight to shape and influence policy first from within. I am sometimes successful and other times I just need to keep pushing. And this I will continue to do, not for self but for Ghana our Motherland.
9. The call for more drastic action to be taken and the call on the president to consider state of emergency now and not as last resort must be led by right thinking people in society, not partisan rifraffs.
Will go focus on my busy schedules but as and when they deserve a response again, I will fire the more. I don’t like to “fight” but I don’t hate to “fight”.
Yaw Gyampo
A31, Prabiw
PAV Ansah Street
Saltpond
&
Suro Nipa House
Behind Old Post Office
Larteh-Akuapim
