Akufo-Addo’s Hidden Agenda Behind Lifting Of His Wicked And Selective Ban On Illegal Mining

One of the key causes of poor performing governments is inconsistent leadership. An inconsistent leader appears at times to be physically present when his brains have left the building (presidency). Sometimes he pretends to be listening, sometimes he blows up. Inconsistency and lack of proper planning have rendered the Akufo Addo government useless. Ghanaians have lost trust in his guidance and leadership because of his governance style. All we see the President do is spending his time and energy venting, blaming his predecessors and stewing over his irregular moods or missteps not doing what he was elected to do. Effective leadership is all about being consistent, both in what you say and what you do.

Government has lifted the ban on small-scale mining on companies that have successfully gone through its vetting and other regularising processes. President Akufo Addo in opposition assured the illegal miners he will institute measures to support their operations if elected as President of the Republic. The miners contributed funds to support his 2016 campaign because of that assurance and voted massively for the Npp in the 2016 election because of that assurance. Ironically, one of the major decisions the President took after his inauguration, was banning small-scale mining.

The President said “it will be a betrayal of trust imposed on me if I fail to end this”. His government-designed policies to stop illegal mining in Ghana including the famous operation vanguard. The then Natural Resources Minister John Peter Amewu on the floor of parliament told Ghanaians that implementation of the anti galamsey operations was going to cost Ghana $200 million in

The initial cost the multilateral mining integrated project (NMIP) was pegged at $150 million but jumped to $200 million when the Minister appeared before parliament. Government has so far not furnished the public with detailed breakdown of funds spent on the project. Speaking on Adom FM’s Morning Show, “Dwaso Nsem’, Benito Owusu (Deputy Lands and Natural Resources) revealed that the Akufo Addo government budgeted Ghc 50 million as the initial amount to be spent on the combined team of Military and police. The President made his position on the clear when he addressed journalists at the Jubilee House. Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng said his government had no intention of giving up on its fight against small-scale mining in the country. Prof Frimpong said at the current destruction of rate of 125,000 hectors per year, coupled with the pollution of both surface and groundwater, government was therefore compelled to take the decision it took. Has government achieved its target? Apart from the destruction of mining equipments including excavators etc and killing of souls, we are yet to be told the major gains we accrued from the operation. Leaders must stay disciplined while contending with the complexity of work. Staying consistent with who you claim to be is not as easy as it sounds. Your actions so speak louder than your words. The current President has leadership blind spots. He thinks and pretends to be consistent but he is not. He talks about accountability but doesn’t follow up to see if people are doing what has been agreed to. We don’t know how the millions of cedis government channelled into the anti galamsey fight was used.

The whole operation was selectively done. Known NPP small-scale miners were granted permission to operate. Equipments seized and burnt belonged to miners perceived to be sympathisers of the NDC. If the operation was successful as we were made to believe, then how come some foreign nationals were still being arrested? The chief Sir John and Wontumi, the Eastern Regional Minister accuse his own party members of doing the illegal business in some parts of the region. Reports from the mining communities revealed that pro-NPP miners were allowed and protected to operate in the mining communities and those are the people government has granted permission to start operation. Hundreds of Ghanaians died, thousands were rendered jobless, criminal activities increased in the mining communities, people sold their properties to settle loans acquired from the banks and other sources. Some party and government officials in collaboration with the Minerals and Naturally Resources Ministry and some foreign nationals took over mining concession of pro-NDC supporters.

President Akufo Addo assured said ‘ I put my presidency on the line for galamsey fight’ and assured the nation of his commitment to ending the illegal mining. He was lauded for taking that bold decision and received a nationwide support. Major Adams lost his precious life.

Read More: I will put my Presidency on line to stop galamsey – President

The President advised judges to be merciless with Galamseyers. When the President swore into office the four new Supreme Court judges, at a ceremony held at the Jubilee House, the president said: “concept of deterrence must be an important part of sentencing policy, especially in area of great social concern, such as the fight against galamsey”. The President who assured galamsayers of his support if elected and received final support from them, against legal ethics, charged judges to be merciless with galamsayers.

MAHAMA’S OUTLINED MEASURES TO STREAMLINE ACTIVITIES OF SMALL SCALE MINERS AND AKUFO ADDO’S PANIC REACTION

Former President John Mahama recently outlined measures the next NDC government would implement to streamline activities of small-scale mining when he addressed party folks during his campaign. The former President reiterated what he said in office and measures his government outlined to solve the menace including classification of mining into small, large and medium scales, small-scale miners forming cooperatives to access regulated concession for mining to encourage them to save funds for a period of time to enable them to acquire equipment that could be used to reclaim the land after mining. He also said the medium and large-scale mining companies would also have separate regulations to guide their operations.

President Mahama personally facilitated a move that would have seen the Minerals Commission hold a conference for small-scale miners to enable them to express their views on his administration’s mining policy.

The Mahama administration deported over 5,000 foreign nationals involved in the galamsey business, sacked an MCE for his involvement in the legal business.

President Akufo Addo who said will not respond to aspirants, selectively removed the ban on small-scale mining after former President John Mahama’s famous advice. The President who promised Ghanaians will end galamsey operation in Ghana, and recently charged judges to deal ruthlessly with galamsayers has lifted the ban after former President John Mahama’s statement on small-scale mining in Ghana and how he will handle the second when he takes over the highest office.

Ghanaians are not against our governments doing business with the Chinese. After all, around half of China’s total outbound investments from 2005 to 2016 went into the energy mining sector of foreign countries some African countries included. China has been earning a bad reputation for its operations Africa’s extractive industries because of mischievous and corrupt activities of some African governments.

Why should government sack some small-scale miners while allowing others to work? Why burning equipment of the miners when there are many reasonable measures government could have taken to check the menace.

NO GAINS MADE

Government has wasted billions of taxpayers money on its galamsey fight initiative with nothing positive to show as gains made.

Persons going back to the mining sites are NPP supporters trained to take over the business. The combined team of Military and police (operation vanguard) will continue to provide support and protection to the pro-NPP miners.