The leader of the Movement for Change, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has reiterated his resolve to combat Ghana’s entrenched illegal mining problem, known locally as galamsey.
Addressing the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) gathering in Accra, Kyerematen unveiled a comprehensive plan to protect Ghana’s water resources.
At the heart of his strategy is the proposal to impose life imprisonment on individuals convicted of galamsey-related offenses. Kyerematen argued that the existing 10-year prison term is insufficient to deter would-be perpetrators.
Additionally, he pledged to utilize cutting-edge technology to revitalize Ghana’s polluted rivers. He also plans to institute a one-year moratorium on small-scale community mining.
“We will impose a complete ban for one year on small-scale, community mining, whether legal or illegal, within one year we can clean all our river bodies…The introduction of new legislation and regulations will impose a complete ban on any form of mining in river bodies and forest reserves, With associated sanction regimes including life imprisonment for the violation of these new laws” he stated.
“Ghanaians, you need to get to the point where when you punish them they will feel the impact of the punishment. If it is just a question of 10 years, the amount of money that they may be getting from galamsey, it will not be enough deterrent, they will go in 10 years, come back and continue. So we have to be serious about how we deal with galamsey” he added.
The presidential candidate assured the public of his administration’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable resource management.
