President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that anyone who has contrary position on his government’s fight against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey could go to court if they so wish.
Addressing a gathering a sod-cutting ceremony today in Accra, President Akufo-Addo clearly stated that the fight against galamsey was not going to stop anytime soon and warned that persons who are involved in the illegal act, when caught would be made to face the laws of this country and punitive measures spelt out for such persons would be meted out to them.
During his address on Wednesday, May 26, 2021at the ceremony to cut-sod for the construction of phase one of the Law Village Project of the Ghana School of Law, the president remarked “I strongly disagree, and I would advise those who take a contrary view to go to court to vindicate their position, if they so wish. That is what the rule of law is all about. I should know.”
He continued that at his command, no rights can accrue to or flow from the criminal venture of galamsey. The equipment, he added which is being used for an illegal or criminal purpose, cannot confer on the owner or any other person any rights whatsoever.
He appealed to all Ghanaians, including many in the Opposition who are so doing, to rally behind Government in its efforts to stamp out far-reaching illegality and criminality, rather than advocate for the protection of non-existent rights of persons caught in what he termed as ‘evil activity’.
Continuing he pointed out that there are some Ghanaians who believe that the ongoing exercise of ridding our water bodies and forest zones of harmful equipment and machinery is unlawful and, in some cases, harsh.
In response to persons who hold such view, he stated that he strongly disagree, and would advise those who take a contrary view on that to seek redress in a law court so as to vindicate their position on how his government is fighting the menace adding that it is what the rule of law is all about.
He told the gathering at the ceremony that the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), is the vehicle through which a mineral license is acquired, and, thus, confers mineral rights on the holder, explaining that any person who, without a valid license, conveys any equipment onto a piece of land purportedly to conduct activities for the search, reconnaissance, prospecting, exploration or mining for a mineral, commits grievous crimes against the law of this country.
Speaking further, he stated that a person in possession of a valid license but undertakes mining in water bodies or mines unlawfully in protected forest zones also commits an illegality. “Apart from the criminal violations of Act 703, the activities of such persons desecrate our environment, pollute our water bodies, and endanger the lives of present and future generations of Ghanaians,” the President Akufo-Addo commented.
He noted that these were monumental crimes which should not be condoned in any shape or form and added that the presence of changfans in water bodies is illegal, as is the unlawful use of excavators in protected forest zones. The devastation caused by these equipment according to him is nothing short of evil, and urge all not to compromise in their efforts to protect the country’s environment, forest reserves and water bodies.
He said when he swore oath, on January 7, 2021 to be faithful and true to the Republic of Ghana, the fight against galamsey is exactly in line with the services he swore to render to Ghanaians.
Concluding he paid tribute to the officers, men and women of the Ghana Armed Forces, who, he said have stepped forward to perform their patriotic duties in this exercise adding that they deserve the loud praise of the nation.
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