Go to court if you think it is wrong to burn galamsey excavators – Akufo-Addo
- Akufo-Addo meant every word when he announced that the illegal mining menace that has plagued parts of Ghana will be ended in his second term
- According to him, some people are complaining that government's decision to burn excavators is wrong and harsh
- He noted that he strongly disagrees with them and urged them to go to court if they are not happy about the decision
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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo meant every word when he announced that the illegal mining menace that has plagued parts of Ghana will be ended in his second term.
He seems to be doing everything humanly possible to ensure that the act of galamsey is stopped and water bodies regain turbidity and forests regain vegetation.
In view of this, he has called on all those who are not happy about the government's decision to burn all galamsey excavators to go to court.
Source: UGC
According to a report filed by 3news, he made this known on Wednesday, May 26 when he cut sod for Phase One of the Law School Village for the Ghana School of Law.
“I know there are some who believe that the ongoing exercise of ridding our water bodies and forest zones of harmful equipment and machinery is unlawful and, in some cases, harsh. I strongly disagree, and I would advise those who take a contrary view to go to court to vindicate their position, if they so wish,” he said.
On the galamsey fight, the president insisted that those without licenses but convey equipment to sites to search, prospect, explore and mine for a mineral commit grievous crimes against the law.
“Indeed, a person in possession of a valid license but undertakes mining in water bodies or mines unlawfully in protected forest zones also commits an illegality.”
He bemoaned the devastation caused by illegal miners, calling it “evil” and “we should not compromise in our efforts to protect our environment, forest reserves and water bodies”.
In other news, few weeks after the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo deployed about 200 men to galamsey areas on the operation halt exercise, there seems to be some improvement.
The Ankobra River in the Western Region which was heavily polluted as a result of illegal mining along its banks is beginning to clear up.
This comes a month into the special operation by the military task force mandated to stop all mining activities within forest reserves and in water bodies.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
