Policy analyst and the Co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, Dr. Steve Manteaw has alleged that President Akuffo-Addo is apathetic towards the current issues on galamsey.
His reaction follows a response from the presidency to a report on illegal mining by the former Minister of Environment, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng. The report indicted some government officials of actively involving in galamsey.
However, the presidency in a statement hinted that the report by the former minister was not officially presented to the president.
Responding to the statement from the office of the president, Dr. Manteaw asserted that the president doesn’t really care about anything going on in the country because if he does, he wouldn’t ask for evidence before taking an action against the officials implicated in the report.
Speaking in an interview on Neat FM monitored by 1Family Radio, the policy analyst stated, “a president who has vowed to fight galamsey and a former cabinet minister has tipped you on what is happening in order for you to take an action and you are asking for evidence.’’
He continued, “It seems President Akuffo-Addo doesn’t really care about anything happening in the country. My greatest concern is that everything happening will be recorded in history and it will surely affect generations yet to be born. Gradually, this president is going down as the worst president ever in the history of Ghana.’’
According to him, if the president is really serious about fighting galamsey in the country he would have charged security agencies to take action when he was given the hint.
“When it comes to corruption, then the president will say that if you want to make an accusation provide an evidence mean while we have state agencies that are in charge of investigations. As a citizen, I have given you a hint about an issue, then you tell me to go and investigate and provide evidence, how? If he is really serious, he would have let the security agencies take charge when he was tipped,’’ he said.
Dr. Manteaw furthered that this galamsey will have a negative impact on the environment especially on our water bodies if nothing is done about it.
“Just look at the things Frimpong said in his report. A lot of it bothers time and national security. It is a problem on our sustainability of the environment which sustains our lives.’’
“Just take a look at our water bodies and when someone has accused your appointees of involving in galamsey, you ask him to bring evidence because he didn’t use the due process, I’m sorry to this but I believe the president doesn’t really know his duties,’’ he said.
Source: 1Familyradio
