The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) is set to summon the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, to account for the government’s efforts to combat the scourge of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey).
According to Professor Ransford Gyampo, UTAG’s National Executives will soon invite the Minister to brief them on the government’s strategy to tackle the galamsey menace.
“UTAG National Executives will soon summon the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to brief us on government’s efforts to tackle the Galamsey menace. The fight against Galamsey is non negotiable,” Prof. Gyampo emphasized on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, March 22.
This move is part of UTAG’s sustained pressure on the government to address the issue, which has severe environmental and economic implications for the country.
Meanwhile, the Convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, Ken Ashigbey, has called on the Minister to publish the list of individuals and companies that have imported excavators into the country.
“We need to cut the source of funding for the purchase of excavators being used for illegal mining. The identities of the owners of these excavators should also be made public so we can name and Shame them,” Ashigbey stressed.
He also advocated for a thorough investigation into the funding sources of these excavators, suggesting that the chassis numbers of the excavators can be used to track down the real owners.
“If you take the chassis number you will be able to trace it to who owns it,” Ashigbey explained on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, March 22. Furthermore, he emphasized the need to trace the sources of funding for the excavators, stating, “We should look for the sources of the funding for the excavators, they should trace money…we are waiting for the minister to publish the list of those who imported into the country then we know who are bringing it,” Ashigbey said.