Stop The Hypocrisy, Fight Galamsey — Former KATH CEO Challenges NDC Government.
Former Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Professor Otchere-Addai Mensah, has accused the NDC government of political hypocrisy in its handling of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In an interview with Angel in the morning host NANA KWAME ADJEI BOHYEN, professor Otchere said that, the NDC, while in opposition, strongly criticised the previous NPP administration over illegal mining and even called for a state of emergency to deal with the menace.
He is therefore questioning why the same call has gone silent now that the NDC is in government.
Professor Otchere-Addai Mensah says government has enough security personnel, including the military and police, to take decisive action against illegal mining if there is the political will to do so.
He particularly questioned the recent comments by the Minister of Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, that he does not know what he can say to make galamsey reduce, while appealing for a collective effort to address the problem. Professor Otchere-Addai Mensah argues that the government cannot continue to shift responsibility to the public when it has the constitutional mandate and security resources to enforce the law.
He says the NDC previously accused the former NPP government and then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as well as former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, of failing to stop illegal mining.
He therefore wants the government to explain why galamsey continues to worsen despite the change in administration.
He further recalled the NDC’s earlier campaign promises and calls for stronger measures, including a possible state of emergency, to deal with the destruction caused by illegal mining.
According to him, the public deserves to know who should now be held responsible for the continued destruction of the country’s water bodies, farmlands and environment.
Professor Otchere-Addai Mensah has also warned that the effects of galamsey are not limited to communities where illegal mining is taking place.
He says the chemicals used in illegal mining can enter the food chain and affect people across the country through contaminated water, vegetables, fish and other food products.
He has also criticised the media for what he describes as a lack of sustained attention to the galamsey crisis.
Professor Otchere-Addai Mensah says although the media often highlights the issue when there is a major development, coverage tends to die down after a few days.
He is therefore calling on the media to maintain sustained public pressure on government and other stakeholders until concrete measures are implemented to address illegal mining.
He insists that the fight against galamsey should not be treated as a political issue, but as a national emergency requiring decisive and sustained action.
Story by Solomon Kesse.
