Why has UTAG not called out Kwaku Boahen and Mustapha Gbande for promoting galamsey? - IPG quizzes UTAG

The Institute for Progressive Governance, (IPG) has expressed concern about the deafening silence of UTAG, on the rather disturbing statements made by two kingpins of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC), which seek to promote galamsey, when the nation is grappling with the existential threats illegal mining activities pose to Ghanaians.

In a statement to the press issued by IPG, the think-tank noted that University

Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), following the suspension of the planned strike by Organized Labour, has broken away from the mother workers’ body to declare a strike, citing government’s failure to declare a State of Emergency in the fight against illegal mining activities, a declaration UTAG has said is the prerequisite to a serious battle against galamsey.

“UTAG, in all its media engagements, has indicated that it is committed to ensuring that the fight against galamsey is fought relentlessly until the menace is overcome. One is tempted to believe that UTAG is calling for a holistic approach towards this fight, and that all other persons, agents or groups that may seek to impede this fight should not be countenanced”, the statement reads in part.

“It, therefore, comes as shocking why UTAG, after watching and hearing what Kwaku Boahen, a former Deputy Communications Officer and Mustapha Gbande, the current Deputy General Secretary of the opposition NDC have said recently, UTAG is yet to condemn them or call them out,” it further notes.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has signalled that it will embark on a pro-galamsey campaign in all mining communities across the country as part of its 2024 campaign just like it did ahead of the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.

A former Deputy National Communication Officer of the NDC, Kwaku Boahen confirmed this decision of the opposition party in an interview on UTV, pointing out that the party has tasked him to lead the pro-galamsey effort of the NDC in every mining community.

In sharp contrast, the NDC appears to be leading an anti-galamsey and anti-small scaling mining campaign in the Greater Accra Region through its open support for elements within “Organised Labour” who have decided to embark on a much-criticised industrial strike from Thursday, 10 October 2024.

“The NPP lost in all the mining sites across the country in the 2020 general elections due to the volume of work I (Kwaku Boahen) did in those areas. I am going to repeat it this year, I am going back to the mining areas because while we are campaigning, the children (Galamseyers) are in the forest mining so we will send our message to them,” Kwaku Boahen said during the interview on UTV.

“Mustapha Gbande, at a campaign event recently promised galamseyers that they will return to the forests to ply their illegal mining trade if John Mahama comes to power. This is a transcription of what the Deputy General Secretary of the opposition party said: ‘If God wills it and the NDC and former President Mahama come to power in the December 7 elections, you will continue to do your galamsey’,” IPG stated.

The think-tank questioned UTAG on why it has failed to criticize the two NDC kingpins over their pro-galamsey remarks and wonders if the association is truly committed to the galamsey fight.

“UTAG, quite strangely, has not found it pertinent enough to criticize these NDC top guns for these comments which undermine the fight against galamsey. If UTAG is indeed for a holistic approach to dealing with galamsey, and that their crusade is genuine, the association would have heavily criticized these comments

Fighting galamsey must not be seen as an event, for it is a process that may take years to deal with. UTAG’s crusade must not be limited to these few weeks into elections since the fight can only be won with a sustained, resilient crusade into the years ahead. Keeping quiet about what these two NDC kingpins have said only seems to give impetus to the belief by some Ghanaians that the agenda is to get the ruling NPP out of office”, it further stated.

“Any crusade by UTAG or any other group that fails to look beyond the few weeks to elections 2024 in this galamsey fight will achieve little to no results because the challenge will still be facing us after the elections. UTAG is being lopsided in its crusade against illegal mining. If UTAG means business and is genuinely committed to this fight, it must call out Kwaku Boahen and Mustapha Gbande!,” the statement concluded.