Richard Ahiagbah
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said the National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by President John Mahama, is not committed to bringing an end to illegal mining, popularly called ‘galamsey’, which is ravaging most of the country’s forest reserves.
Speaking at a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Accra yesterday, NPP’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, stated that despite NDC’s vigorous campaign against illegal mining, the party has allowed its members to engage in the illegal practice without taking meaningful steps to combat the menace.
He said, “The NDC is complicit in the astronomical growth of illegal mining. With the NDC government in power, its members and supporters within the ‘galamsey’ space have begun to dig in our forests for gold while the government intensifies discussions about combating galamsey.”
“Members of the NDC seem to be visibly emboldened to engage in illegal mining because they realise that the President and the party will be lenient on ‘galamsey’, given their overtures during the campaign,” he added.
Mr. Ahiagbah further cited the example of the Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve where some illegal miners recently attacked and injured the Forestry Commission’s rapid response team, including areas such as Keynkenso, Gyaare forests in Akoasi and the Tano Anwia forest in Aowin where the reserves have also been taken over.
He also called on President Mahama to repeal LI 2462 to end mining in forest reserves as promised, instead of an attempt to amend the law to remove the President’s power to approve applications to mine in forest reserves.
According to the party, the NDC will not be able to amend the law considering the rate at which the forest reserves are been attacked with armed protection from outside sources, though a complete repeal is necessary to ensure a total ban on mining in forest reserves.
“We recall the state of the ‘galamsey’ fight under President Mahama before he exited office in 2017. What we have experienced since President Mahama took office on January 7 appears to be escalation of where he left off in 2017,” he added.
Media Trial
Touching on the issue of corruption, he also described the NDC’s government as a regression in the civil and human rights of citizens and in the efforts to combat illegal mining.
Mr. Ahiagbah indicated that holding public servants accountable is ingrained in the value system of the NPP.
That, he said, led them to establish the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and also increased funding for the Auditor General to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness.
But according to him, the NPP was however concerned about the violation of citizens’ rights and the strategy of the John Mahama administration to try individuals accused of potential acts of corruption in the media rather than in the courtroom, describing them as ‘persecution, not prosecution’.
Mr. Ahiagbah also stated that the NDC government is also not interested in prosecuting corruption, as it has consistently cleared all members standing trial for acts that pertain to corruption upon assumption of office.
He further mentioned Article 19 of the 1992 Constitution which guarantees the right to a fair trial, including the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“We wonder why the Attorney General is not going to court if he has compelling evidence of wrongdoing against the suspects in question. Instead, he is holding press conferences to discuss his supposed unverified evidence,” he added.
The Communications Director, therefore, cautioned the NDC to desist from such acts as Ghanaians will judge the government based on its performance and not on how well it has defamed its political opponents as well as the rights and liberties of Ghanaians.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah