The Vice Presidential Candidate of the All Peoples Congress (APC) and renowned economist, Rev Dr. Worlanyo Mensah, has cautioned the government to exercise restraint in addressing illegal mining activities, popularly known as “galamsey.”
Dr. Mensah warned that hasty actions, driven by calls from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), could lead to substantial judgement debts.
“Many Ghanaians are advocating for drastic measures, including ‘shoot and kill’ operations and burning excavators at galamsey sites, under the guise of executive directives, which lack legal backing,” Dr. Mensah said.
While acknowledging the need to stop illegal mining, Dr. Mensah emphasized that such actions must be grounded in law to achieve their intended purpose.
“The government must not forget that foreign and local mining firms with prospective mining licenses from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources may be entitled to judgement debts if their operations are abruptly halted,” Dr. Mensah noted.
He urged the government to adopt a balanced approach, prioritizing legality and due process in addressing galamsey.
“By doing so, the government can avoid potentially costly judgement debts while effectively tackling illegal mining,” Rev Dr. Worlanyo Mensah concluded.
Story filed by Odiasempa Kwaku Ahiaku
