Lawyer calls for President Akufo-Addo’s resignation over failure to tackle illegal mining
Lawyer and ex-military captain, Jamal Tonzua Seidu, has called on Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo to step down due to his perceived failure in the fight against illegal mining in the country. Seidu argued that the president’s conduct could be seen as undermining the safety of citizens and, under Article 69 of the constitution, could lead…
Lawyer and ex-military captain, Jamal Tonzua Seidu, has called on Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo to step down due to his perceived failure in the fight against illegal mining in the country.
Seidu argued that the president’s conduct could be seen as undermining the safety of citizens and, under Article 69 of the constitution, could lead to his removal from office. Seidu went on to state that the government’s policies on illegal mining had been defective in their formulation and had failed to address the root causes of the issue.
Meanwhile, Bezaba Yalley, an Assistant Lecturer at the Mining Engineering Department of the University of Mines and Technology, has suggested that the complex procedures involved in securing land for mining have contributed to the high levels of illegal mining activity in Ghana. She noted that the hurdles faced by those seeking licenses for small-scale mining operations were overwhelming and that even those who sought to do things legally were often discouraged by the process.
For the most part, both Seidu and Yalley’s comments highlight the difficulties faced in tackling illegal mining in Ghana. While Seidu suggests that the government’s policies have been inadequate, Yalley points to the obstacles that small-scale miners face in obtaining the necessary permits to work legally.
It is clear that the issue of illegal mining is a complex and multi-faceted one that will require a coordinated and sustained effort from all stakeholders in order to be effectively addressed.
Source: Adom online
