President John Dramani Mahama will lead a ruthless campaign against illegal mining like never been seen, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said.
He said the President, together with Cabinet Ministers, at a brief cabinet meeting held yesterday, did not mince words in their call for a very ruthless campaign against illegal mining.
“I can confirm to you that you are going to see a fight that has never been witnessed in this country.
President Mahama is going to lead a very ruthless and relentless campaign against galamsey. He has not minced words at all.
“We had a brief cabinet meeting earlier today, and the President was very clear.
There was no ambiguity that he will be leading a war that we have never seen, to deal with this canker, this existential threat once and for all,” Mr Ablakwa said.
Mr Ablakwa spoke to the media after signing a book of condolence at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Accra yesterday to conclude the three-day opening of the book of condolence in honour of the eight victims of the military helicopter crash last week.
Over the three days, over 100 dignitaries and diplomats signed the book of condolences.
Immortalising memories
The Minister of Foreign Affairs said there was the need for the government and Ghanaians to be committed to finish the mission that the helicopter crash victims were pursuing.
“It is now up to us to finish the mission they were pursuing, a cause to which all of us must be committed to help transform and reset this nation,” Mr Ablakwa said.
He averred that, as a nation, there must be utmost commitment, so that the ultimate sacrifice of the victims should not be in vain.
Mr Ablakwa said the country must honour their memories by ensuring that the galamsey menace, which had not been resolved over the years, was dealt with once and for all.
He emphasised that it was also important that the nation immortalised the memories of the departed heroes by ensuring it protected the environment.
“We must protect our water bodies and keep this country safe for the generations coming after us,” he stated.
Appreciation
The Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to world leaders, international partners to solidarise with the government, families and the people of Ghana who had been grieving their heroes.
“During this memorial, national mourning, and the opening of this book of condolence, there is hardly any embassy or any international partner accredited to Ghana whose head of mission or representative of the head of mission has not been here.
“All of them have been united with us, grieving and mourning. I want to, on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, extend our profound gratitude to all.
“World leaders have called directly, they have sent messages of condolence, they have extended their commiserations through diverse ways,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs said.
He also thanked staff of the ministry the Chief Director, Directors, particularly the Protocol Department, who had worked around the clock to ensure a smooth process for dignitaries received in the course of this tragic loss.