Speaking to the media after the “John Mahama Fellowship with the Clergy”, former sports minister Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah echoed what the NDC flagbearer said about illegal mining during his speech.
The issue of galamsey for the last few days has been a trending topic with most Ghanaians calling on the president to declare a state of emergency due to how our bodies have been condemned. The youth of the country have also staged a 3-day demonstration to demand for the release of the peaceful protesters who were arrested and also vent their frustrations on the government for overseeing the destruction of our water bodies.
Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah speaking to the media staked clearly that the NDC will not condone any form of illegal mining and the track records are there to back these facts.
“People says when every government comes in power they all undertake galamsey, it’s not true, facts don’t lie, since independence till 2016 when NDC was leaving power, the licenses given are less than 200. Even with this I have gone up but let’s use the figure 200. Since this Akufo Addo - Bawumia government assumed power they have given over 1600 licenses in 8 years. Can you imagine?”
He further echoed that “if you are not going to comply with the rules by planting the trees destroyed then their administration will revoke their license and seize them from operating”
According to the Ghana Mining Repository, Ghana has issued 1,696 mining licenses in the past 8 years, a 2,800% increase compared to 57 licenses since 1995. This claim is to back what the minister said during the interview.
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