The Ghana Mine Workers Union has expressed displeasure and disappointment with President Nana Akufo-Addo's handling of the galamsey crisis that continues to affect the country.
In an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, the General Secretary of the Union, Abdul Moomin Gbana, stated that addressing the illegal activities of miners requires a robust national security strategy, strong political will, and engagement with local communities to achieve meaningful progress in the fight against galamsey. "I must be honest with you that the president failed.
He failed woefully.
The truth of the matter is that the political will to aggressively go after galamsey and nip it in the bag, unfortunately, he did not live up to the bidding. "He did not live up to the expectation.
I mean, most of his own appointees have been caught one way or the other, or they have been complicit in galamsey.
What has he had to say in all those instances? "If your own appointees, if your own party people are caught in this activity, you must be the first person not only to name and shame them but to prosecute them. "Unfortunately, he [President Akufo-Addo] is always on the defense.
As for me, the president's handling of galamsey is very bizarre, very disappointing, and I believe that we ought to go back to the table and ensure that we re-strategise."