Communications Director for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has stated that removing the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor, from office will not solve the issue of illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
According to Aboagye, illegal mining existed before the minister assumed office, making calls for his dismissal unnecessary. His comments come in response to demands from Minority members on Parliament’s Works and Housing Committee for the immediate removal of the Lands Minister and his deputies.
The Minority accuses them of failing to protect Ghana’s water bodies and rivers from the destructive effects of illegal mining.
Vincent Oppong Asamoah, Ranking Member of the Works and Housing Committee, argues that removing the sector ministers would lead to improvements in combating galamsey.
However, speaking on JoyNews, Mr. Aboagye questioned the rationale behind the calls, saying: “Was there galamsey before the Lands Minister took office? If you fire the Lands Minister tomorrow, will it end galamsey? The point is, before I say that, let’s relieve you of your role as a host on this program, you might have been culpable of something. I might have seen that you are either incompetent in fixing it or doing what you are doing, or you have not done what you are supposed to do.”
Aboagye stressed that scapegoating and politicising social problems like galamsey will not lead to effective solutions, noting that such an approach leaves the real culprits untouched.
“I am one person who has refrained from allowing this galamsey conversation to be drawn along partisan lines. Whose purpose does it serve? Who benefits from this? This galamsey menace has been present since 2011, when it first emerged under the former president as vice president and former President Mills,” Aboagye added.
He urged a non-partisan approach in addressing the galamsey crisis to ensure that lasting solutions are found.