In Ghana, Ken Ashigbey calls for state of emergency against illegal gold mining
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on MyJoyOnline
Ken Ashigbey, coordinator of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency in areas taken over by illegal gold mining. He says officials responsible for enforcing mining law are involved, and calls for the recommendations of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference to be followed, according to MyJoyOnline.
Kenneth Ashigbey, coordinator of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, which refers to illegal gold mining, on Saturday called on President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency in the badly affected areas. He spoke on the Newsfile programme on JoyNews. He denounces the involvement of people responsible for enforcing mining regulations, who, in his view, are among those fuelling the problem.
He also believes political officials are putting pressure on some metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs), whose efforts to enforce the regulations are being hindered as a result. He mentions threats and attacks targeting soldiers, and suggests this audacity could come from influential interests. He calls for investigations to identify those responsible.
He urges the president to follow the recommendations of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference on illegal gold mining, which he considers comprehensive. He distinguishes responsible mining operators from criminal actors, who are involved in violence, intimidation and the circulation of ammunition in mining communities, and he wants legitimate activities protected. In his view, the scale of the problem requires more than routine operations.
