The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Professor Ransford Gyampo, has reiterated his call for a state of emergency in addressing illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, but says President John Mahama’s current strategies deserve national backing.
In an interview on Accra-based Citi FM, Prof. Gyampo described the government’s ongoing interventions as “appropriate, though not exhaustive.”
“These initiatives may not be enough. Galamsey is still going on. People, including myself, are still calling for radical interventions. I still stand by my call for a state of emergency.
“But there is also wisdom in what the President is saying, which is giving him time to implement these interventions, and if they fail, he will resort to a state of emergency as a last option. So, I think we must all be seen to be supporting the fight against galamsey,” he said.
Prof. Gyampo also disclosed that Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which allows mining in forest reserves, will be revoked when Parliament reconvenes.
He welcomed the development, noting that it reflects the President’s responsiveness to public sentiment.
“I am happy that the President listens. In the lead-up to the elections in 2024, he promised that the law that encourages people to enter the forest to mine would be repealed. When they came to power, they said they could only take away the bad provisions.
“But we all said no, the repeal was a promise, so they should repeal it completely. After mounting pressure, today we are told that when Parliament resumes, the law will be repealed. That shows that the President listens,” he added.
Source: Adomonline
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