Akufo-Addo has to work with some hearsay evidence in 'galamsey' fight - Inusah Fuseini

Former MP for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini has admonished President Akufo-Addo not to discard all rumours about some members in his government who are said to be dealing in illegal mining.

According to him, some of these allegations are essential in helping the fight against illegal small-scale mining in the country.

“I will hasten to add, the President has said he will deal with anyone who is found countable in illegal small mining excerpt that he will not act on hearsay. The President shouldn’t have added that, everybody knows that you don’t deal on hearsay to punish it must deal with on concrete established evidence.

“But the president will have to work with hearsay evidence because that hearsay evidence might lead him to many areas or many activities of persons who are under the radial,” he told JoyNews’ Evans Mensah on TopStory, Wednesday.

His comment comes after President Akufo-Addo stated that his fight against illegal small-scale mining will not be based on mere allegations.

He emphasised that inasmuch as he is determined to enforce the laws on illegal mining, he is not ready to “act on hearsay or mere allegations without more. I will not hesitate to act though where the evidence is hard before the police.

“And I will do so irrespective of the standing of the person or persons involved. That is the true meaning of equality before the law,” he stressed.

Reacting to this, the former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources indicated that the best solution in curbing the canker is to probe further into hearsays purported against persons involved in the illegalities.

Mr Fuseini believes that persons behind these illegalities are top officials hence, the need “to charge District Chief Executive (DCE) and the minister to stamp out illegal small scale mining in the various jurisdiction”.

He also emphasised the need for the Presidency to establish an office for the purposes of receiving such complaints..