United Progressive Party (UPP) founder and leader Akwasi Adai Odike has blasted President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo for his role in the spread of galamsey.
As far as he is concerned, the president and his administration have an incentive to do nothing to halt the canker.
Local Galamsey was terrible under Mahama, but it’s improving under Akufo-Addo, according to NPP member Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.
The controversial lawmaker said in an interview broadcast on Onua TV that President Akufo-Addo is just giving the issue lip regard.
“The meeting the president had in Kumasi had no benefit. The president went to meet MMDCEs, is he not the same person who appoints them? Does he not have a Chief of Staff who is supposed to sack MMDCEs who are misbehaving? Do you have to call all of them together?
“The meeting the president held in Kumasi was a galamsey shareholders’ meeting. The chiefs are blaming the government for the menace, the government is also blaming the chiefs. These are the two groups who went to meet. They are the shareholders in galamsey.
“The president just went to make a speech. He did not state any strategy to stop the menace, and he is not going to because he is a direct beneficiary of the galamsey proceeds. Everything shows that Nana Addo is a direct beneficiary of galamsey proceeds. The chiefs are also beneficiaries of galamsey,” he said in Twi.
According to him, Akufo-Addo has exhausted all other options, including the military and risking his presidency, and is turning to chiefs for assistance in the battle against galamsey.
President Akufo-Addo met with chiefs and MMDCEs on Wednesday (October 5) in Kumasi and asked them to take an active role in the battle against unlawful small-scale mining since they are the guardians of the soil.