There has been so much talk about galamsey in the last few weeks. Many have bemoaned the rate at which the illegality is being perpetuated. Many rivers have been polluted and lands have been destroyed as a result of the effects of galamsey. What even made the discussion interesting was the recent commentary made by Akwasi Addai Odike, a 2012 presidential aspirant.
On The Big Issues on TV3, Davis Ansah Opoku noted that Odike needs to apologize because his comments were indeed in bad taste. He mentioned that the words of Odike showed disrespect to the traditional council and something needed to be done to curb it or others will follow the example. According to the Mpraeso MP, anyone who dares indulges in galamsey in his constituency will be beaten to set an example.
Murtala Mohammed, MP for Tamale Central and Bernard Mornah who were then in the studios with Johnny Hughes called on the MP to retract because his comments were below the belt. According to Johnnie Hughes, it was unfair for a law maker to say he will organize an attack on other individuals without applying the law. Johnnie insisted that what the MP said was equal to what Odike had said when he mentioned that he will organize the youth in Kumasi to protest.
“I have been one member of Parliament who has warned that anyone who steps foot in my constituency to engage in any form of galamsey, I will not report you to the police. We will attack you” Ansah Opoku said.
With Murtala and Mornah urging Johnnie to issue a disclaimer, the host issued one and said the station doesn’t support any form of violence on individuals. Ansah Opoku failed to retract but kept on justifying his point. The Mpraeso MP is noted for commandeering the entire Majority in Parliament to stage a walkout that led to the first rejection of the 2022 budget in November last year.
Many government big wigs have denied their involvement in galamsey and yet the illegality still persist. The Presidency itself has been accused of not doing enough to stop galamsey despite the numerous raids on galamsey sites. With high profile people denying their involvement, the question then remains as to which people are really behind galamsey and why government hasn’t been able to stop them.
Use the link below to watch the video. Kindly start from 1:06:10- 1:08:25
https://www.facebook.com/TV3GH/videos/758088492105157/?mibextid=RLPEgc17HP02d8i3
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