How Martin Kpebu's fight against illegal mining cost him his job

Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has disclosed that his fight against bauxite mining in the Atewa Forest cost him his job.

Speaking during a recent panel discussion on Key Points on TV3, he explained that his decision to sue the Akufo-Addo-led government over bauxite mining led to severe consequences, resulting in him losing his job.

"Why is that public officers like to protect their jobs? You think we don't suffer? We are also suffering. We are also sacrificing.

"The government wanted to do bauxite mining in Atewa forest some years ago, then ARocha Ghana and a lot of NGOs came to consult me. We sued in court. The people I was working with were not comfortable with it. They said, Martin, how can you fight government? No, we don't like such a thing. You go to work in the morning; you are called in. Why are you suing the government over Atewa Forest?" he said.

He continued to explain that "Will you drop this case? I say no, so in one or two minutes, I have lost my job. Okay, if you are not dropping the case, there is no seat for you here. That is it. I lost my job. I had to just leave with my Atewa Forest brief under my armpit."

Despite his commitment to the fight against illegal mining, Martin Kpebu further disclosed that he had suffered some setbacks in his career due to his political affiliation.

"As we sit you think we don't suffer? I tell you we are also suffering. There are many government jobs people recommend. Once they see it, they say this guy is NDC, and I am taken off. That is the price I am paying. Yet they keep coming because I am able to go to court and earn some money when I have never voted for Mahama, yet I have lost jobs because I was perceived as NDC," he stated.

Public discussions on illegal mining began when the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) stated that illegal mining activities and the pollution of the River Pra had made it impossible to supply water to residents of Cape Coast and some surrounding communities in the Central Region.

JKB/AE

Watch the final part of Hassan Ayariga's interview on GhanaWeb TV with Etsey Atisu on Election Desk below: