Akufo-Addo is a joker in the fight against galamsey – KNUST professor

Professor Eric Abavare, President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has defended his recent statement referring to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a “joker” in the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

The professor made his comment on Channel One TV on Saturday, October 12, 2024, during a discussion regarding the government's approach to addressing the galamsey problem.

Prof. Abavare sharply criticized the president’s handling of the issue, suggesting that the government's efforts to reclaim lands destroyed by illegal mining have been far from satisfactory.

His remark drew criticism from Enoch Afoakwa, a member of the communications team for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), who expressed disapproval of the language used.

Despite the backlash, Prof. Abavare stood his ground, stating that he deliberately chose his words and fully supports his position.

“I called the president a joker, and I have no regrets. If we look at the environmental audit report and see that less than 1 percent of damaged lands have been reclaimed, that’s a failure by any standard,” citinewsroom.com quoted him as saying.

He emphasized that his criticism was not driven by malice but rather a desire for the government to succeed in tackling the galamsey issue. “I want my country and government to succeed. If they fail, it means we all fail,” he added.

AM/OGB

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