NPP will regularize ‘galamsey’ - Akufo-Addo

The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has assured residents of Obuasi that his government, God-willing from January 2017, will ensure the re-opening and full operation of the Anglogold Ashanti mine, whose closure has stalled business and commercial activities in this once vibrant town.

Additionally, the NPP flagbearer stated that his government will, in accordance with law, regularize and streamline the operations of ‘galamsey’ mining across the country, and transform it into small-scale mining, so the youth in mining communities can find work to do.

Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing residents of Obuasi on Friday, July 15, 2016, when he made this known, as he toured the Obuasi East and Obuasi West constituencies, on day 3 of his 5-day tour of the Ashanti Region.

Explaining why Ghanaians “have to change this non-performing Mahama government and replace it with an Akufo-Addo government, which is coming into office to create jobs for the people”, the NPP flagbearer recounted how in 2012, he made a similar promise, only for President Mahama to say he was lying to the people of Obuasi.

“I was here in Obuasi to say that Galamsey, which I prefer to call small-scale mining, will be regularized, to ensure that the youth all find work to do. Shortly afterwards, Mahama also came here to tell you that I was lying, and that an Akufo-Addo government will rather sack everyone involved in galamsey.

“When he won the election, he rather directed soldiers to come and drive out all persons involved in galamsey in Obuasi,” Akufo-Addo noted.

Appealing to the people of Obuasi to have confidence in him, he stated that “I will never give a promise I know I cannot keep. I am going to use every strength, every connection of mine in the world of business to ensure that the (Anglogold Ashanti) mine is reopened and strengthened, so as to bring life back to Obuasi.”

Urging the people of Obuasi not to be hoodwinked by the usual propaganda of ‘it cannot be done’ and ‘it is impossible’, he explained that any policy that has been initially introduced by the NPP has been said not to be feasible. Posterity, he added, has always proven the NPP right, as these policies have always been implemented.

“In 2000, when Kufuor said he was going to introduce the NHIS, he was mocked at by the late Prof. Mills, who said it could not be done. Did Kufuor not implement the NHIS? Did it not benefit Ghanaians?” he asked

Likewise in 2012, “I indicated that it was important for every school-going child to have access to education. I stated that I was going to make senior high school education free. Again, President Mahama and his government told the world that I was lying, and that it was not possible. When he won power, he turned around to do it, and, yet he could not. When I win, I am coming implement the Free SHS policy.”

In concluding, Nana Akufo-Addo appealed to the electorate “to look at up to the Elephant this year. Together with your MP, Kweku Kwarteng, we are coming to revitalize Obuasi and bring this famous town back to life.”