The Flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has pointed out that he will surely grant amnesty to convicted small-scale miners, popularly known as galamseyers if giving the nod on December 07.
Mr Mahama who could not fathom why the Akufo-Addo led Government set free Chinese galamsey queen, Aisha Hunag but rather imprisoned poor citizens of the country.
According to him, our youths have been imprisoned for their involvement in galamsey and that it was surprising that a Chinese national and galamsey queen was arrested for the same crime and later freed and repatriated to her country.
“This is unacceptable, and I’ll ensure that if I come back to power, those convicted of galamsey would be granted amnesty”, he emphasized.
The former President made the declaration at Adum Banso in the Mpohor Constituency when addressing a durbar of Chiefs and people of the area as part of his five-day tour of the Western Region.
Mr Mahama further assured of making everything within his effort to get galamsey operators back to the fields to work in a more controlled environment as captured in their People’s Manifesto.
He also promised to fix the deplorable roads in the area.
Editor’s note:
President Akufo-Addo cut sod for the construction of the Kejebil-Mpohor-Adum Banso road in May 2018 but little has been seen.
Meanwhile, the Western Regional Minister has explained that the contract was taken from the former contractor who had delayed the project and given to Josmoh Construction Limited who has started work on the road.
The Mpohor constituency is known for galamsey operations. Deep in the forest, along the Pra River, these illegal miners undertake their alluvial mining, and thus damaging aquatic life.
Over the past year, hundreds have been arrested by the District Anti-galamsey Taskforce, yet the illegal activity persists.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
