I Stand by my words — UTAG President defends calling Ghana’s President a big joker
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According to Onua online, The professor’s sharp criticism stems from what he perceives as the government’s failure to take strong and effective measures to combat illegal mining. Galamsey has been a persistent problem in Ghana, causing environmental degradation and posing a serious threat to water bodies and farmlands. According to Prof. Abavare, the government’s response to this issue has been lackluster and marked by indecision.
Drawing a comparison to the swift measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, where President Akufo-Addo implemented strict lockdowns and deployed security forces to enforce them, Prof. Abavare suggested that similar urgency is needed in tackling the illegal mining problem. He argued that the government should consider more direct interventions, including banning the importation of certain mining equipment, which could hinder illegal mining operations. “The President should ban the importation of earth-moving equipment and changfans if he is serious about addressing galamsey,” Abavare asserted.
This statement comes at a time when UTAG has declared a strike, partly motivated by a demand for decisive government action on illegal mining. Prof. Abavare explained that the strike aims to press the government into taking concrete steps to combat the galamsey menace. His remarks reflect a growing frustration among stakeholders and the general public over the lack of effective measures to curb the illegal mining industry.
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