Former MP for Subin Constituency, Eugene Boakye Antwi
Former Subin lawmaker, Eugene Boakye Antwi, has slammed the Mahama administration over their inability to curb illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, in Ghana.
Referencing the Mahama government, then in opposition, pressing former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency and repeal L.I. 2462, which permits mining activities within forest reserves, Eugene Boakye Antwi questioned why it is now difficult for the government to do exactly what they demanded of the previous administration.
He noted on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” panel discussion show that the National Democratic Congress, led by President John Dramani Mahama, is currently in power and has every opportunity to stop the galamsey menace, and thus called on the sector Minister to take action.
“You are in government today. What is preventing the NDC from repealing the so-called obnoxious L.I. 2462? What is preventing them? This is not an entrenched provision requiring a referendum. Today, you have the numbers in Parliament to see to its repeal. Why haven’t they done it yet?”
L.I. 2462, formally known as the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022, is a Ghanaian legal instrument that permits mining activities within forest reserves.
It was enacted in November 2022 under the former Akufo-Addo administration.
The former Member of Parliament and NPP stalwart further stated that one reason galamsey continues to be an albatross around the government’s neck is that some appointees have a vested interest in illegal mining.
“Looking at President Mahama’s appointments, it has made me fear people. In fact, humans are dangerous, but when you look at some people who stood against the NPP government, and today all of them have appointments, it means whatever they did was all about personal interest. They were all lying,” he concluded.