Ebenezer Terlabi – Adomonline.com

‘If we don’t take care, we’ll lose galamsey fight again’ – Deputy Interior Minister

Gertrude Okyere — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:52:01 +0000

Deputy Interior Minister Ebenezer Terlarbi has warned that Ghana risks losing the battle against illegal mining, also known as galamsey, if pragmatic and innovative steps are not taken, particularly in dealing with foreign nationals involved in the practice.

Speaking on Joy FM’s PM Express, he defended the Interior Ministry’s recent directive to the Inspector General of Police to transfer all regional, divisional, and district commanders in mining zones, stating that the decision was necessary but should be accompanied by broader reforms for effective implementation.

“In fact, if we don’t take care, we are going to lose this fight again,” he stated in a candid assessment of the government’s own approach. “The situation on hand—we cannot do things the same way and think we’ll have different results. We need to be a little innovative.”

The directive, issued by Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak, has sparked both support and criticism. It includes the controversial decision to deport foreign nationals engaged in illegal mining, rather than prosecuting them in Ghana’s courts.

Mr. Terlarbi acknowledged the debate surrounding the policy but insisted it was driven by practical constraints.

“We know when it comes to litigation in this country, dealing with our courts, it can sometimes be very frustrating,” he said. “We have instances where people are arrested, and we prefer repatriating them rather than taking them through our courts.”

He elaborated on the complexities of foreign involvement in galamsey, explaining that arrested foreigners often complicate the legal process. “They tell you ‘Take me to court.’ They have lawyers, which is their right. But then they also claim they don’t have passports, and their identities become difficult to establish. Once they get into the system, it’s difficult to track them.”

When questioned about the perceived double standard—where Ghanaians face court proceedings while foreigners are simply deported—Mr. Terlarbi acknowledged the optics could be troubling but emphasized the logistical challenges.

“You arrest about 80 Chinese nationals, and you have to find a place to keep them. Even vehicles to take them to court become a problem. You go to court, and they succeed in getting bail. Then what? Where do you house them? We’re talking about 1,400 inmates already in our prisons, and even feeding them is a problem.”

While he refrained from providing full details, Mr. Terlarbi hinted at ongoing efforts beyond public knowledge. “There are a few things I wouldn’t like to disclose on air or in public,” he added. “But there’s so much going on.”

The Deputy Minister’s comments highlight the growing concerns within the government that the fight against illegal mining, which has long been undermined by corruption, weak enforcement, and lack of political will, may falter once again without the implementation of clear systems of accountability and sustainable enforcement.

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Fire marshals to be trained and stationed in markets

Gertrude Okyere — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 14:42:54 +0000

The Deputy Interior Minister, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has announced that the Mahama-led administration will soon undertake a significant restructuring of markets across the country.

According to Mr. Terlabi, the initiative aims to ensure adequate access to all markets and improve fire safety. He made this statement during the JoyNews National Dialogue on Recurring Fire Disasters, titled “From Ashes to Action: Breaking the Fire Cycle in Ghana.”

The live event, broadcast across all JoyNews platforms, brought together traders, insurance experts, fire officers, health and safety professionals, and the Deputy Interior Minister to discuss the alarming rate of fire outbreaks in Ghana.

Discussions highlighted key causes of market fires, including improper market construction, disregard for safety standards, inadequate equipment for the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), and rural-urban migration. Proposed solutions included market restructuring, retooling firefighters, and promoting attitudinal change among traders.

UK-based health and safety professional Edward Debrah cited inadequate emergency systems as a major contributor to fire outbreaks, questioning the preparedness of some firefighters.

“The problem is the lack of adherence to emergency systems and their inadequacy. Also, some fire service personnel are not fully aware of what they are fighting,” he said.

However, Greater Accra Fire Commander ACFO II Rashid Kwame Nisawu disagreed, arguing that improper market construction and limited emergency access are the real issues.

“It is not true that the GNFS lacks the requisite knowledge to fight fires. The real problem is improper construction and market segmentation, where emergency access should be prioritised,” he stated.

A fire victim from Kantamanto, Susana Asabea, revealed that traders quickly rebuilt the market after a fire due to fears that the land might be sold to other developers.

“We quickly rebuilt because we heard that Kantamanto Market was going to be sold,” she explained.

Meanwhile, trader Nana Yaw Osei Doudo attributed market congestion to rural-urban migration, driven by high unemployment.

“Creating space in Kantamanto will be problematic because we followed due process to acquire the land, and no trader is willing to cede any space. The congestion in the market, leading to the fires, is due to rural-urban migration driven by unemployment,” he stated.

The Managing Director of Bedrock Insurance stressed the need for better coordination in rebuilding markets to prevent future disasters.

Edward Debrah also emphasized that sustainable solutions require a shift in mindset.

“We need to return to the basics, focusing on attitudinal change. We need to find ways to hold leaders accountable, and investigations from previous fires must be made public,” he said.

In response, Deputy Interior Minister Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi announced plans to incorporate emergency access routes in future market reconstructions.

“We have plans to rebuild several markets in Ghana to ensure fire officers are present. We will also introduce mechanised boreholes in markets to serve as an additional water source for firefighters,” he disclosed.

Additionally, he revealed that the government, in collaboration with the Youth Ministry, would train fire marshals to be stationed in markets to enforce fire safety standards.

The host of the dialogue, Samuel Kojo Brace, also announced plans for JoyNews to spearhead a national fundraising initiative to purchase fire tenders for the GNFS.

Ghanaians hope that the proposed measures—market restructuring, equipping the GNFS, and training fire marshals—will help reduce the frequent fire outbreaks that continue to plague the country’s markets.

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Let’s leave Dampare’s fate to Mahama – Interior Minister nominee

Gertrude Okyere — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:56:05 +0000

The Interior Minister nominee, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has called on Ghanaians to exercise restraint regarding the fate of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.

According to the Lower Manya Krobo MP, decisions concerning Dr. Dampare’s future should be left to President John Mahama, who holds the appointing authority.

Speaking before the Appointments Committee on Monday, February 24, Terlabi likened the situation to a football coach making strategic substitutions.

“As I said, I wish I had that authority, but the appointing authority will be looking at other factors. Sometimes you think you’re doing your best as a player, but your coach substitutes you based on what he sees from the bench. So let’s leave it to the appointing authority,” he stated.

The public remains divided over whether Dr. Dampare should remain in office following the change in government.

While some are calling for his removal, others argue that doing so would be counterproductive, given his contributions to maintaining national peace.

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