Shoot-to-kill comments were needless – Ofosu-Ampofo

The Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has highly condemned the suggestion made by the First deputy speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, for the shoot-to-Kill approach in dealing with illegal miners in the country.

Joseph Osei-Owusu, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bekwai Constituency, suggested the joint military and police anti-galamsey task force fighting illegal mining in various parts of the country adopts a shoot-to-kill approach in dealing with illegal miners destroying the country’s water resources.

According to Ofosu-Ampofo, this new development is a u-turn from the promises made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on the matters of illegal mining ‘galamsey’ in the country during the 2016 elections.

He also stated that the comments made by the ruling government were just for political gain. Ofosu-Ampofo made it clear that the ruling NPP government has deceived the Ghanaian citizenry on their failed promise against illegal mining.

He emphasized that, the ruling government in their campaign towards the 2016 elections told Ghanaians that they will streamline this act in other to help maximize the benefit from the natural result.

Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Morning show on Thursday, March 15, Ofosu-Ampofo stated that the position towards the galameyers in the country especially in the northern region is life threatening and dangerous.

Some personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) burnt down 14 tipper trucks and an excavator used for illegal sand winning activities at Afa Yilli, near Dalun, in the Kumbungu District in the Northern Region.

The reason for the action by the military on Saturday, March 3, 2018 was part of a nationwide exercise to rid the country of illegal mining activities which included sand winning, by an ‘Operation Vanguard’ taskforce.

Ofosu-Ampofo stated that this acts will go a long way to weaken the fragile security of the northern part of our country and should be condemned with all the seriousness it deserves.

“I am not supporting wrong doing, because the act of illegal mining is dangerous to the livelihood of affected areas that indulge in these acts”

“The government should find an amicable and a diplomatic way in solving this issue without complicating it” He stated.