The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Full Gospel Church International, Bishop Dr Samuel Noi Mensah, has expressed frustration over the scourge of illegal mining, aka galamsey in Ghana. He stated that Ghanaians should be upset by the situation, which he described as highly disappointing.
Dr Noi Mensah added that he once believed there was potential for the President to demonstrate strong leadership in the fight against galamsey. “But it looks like we don’t have the real leaders who have the political will to bring that change,” he said on JoyNews’ Upfront on Thursday, September 5.
Bishop Dr Mensah said that the ordinary Ghanaian lacks the power and state machinery to enforce order, lamenting that it is unfortunate those entrusted with authority have failed the people.
He stated that Ghanaians are deeply disappointed with the current government, which has shown neither responsibility nor the will to protect the country’s environment and ecosystems.
Responding to comments by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, who suggested that some politicians within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) oppose the fight against galamsey because it is diminishing their political fortunes, Bishop Dr Mensah called for the minister’s resignation.
“First of all, he should resign. He has refused to provide leadership and ensure that this destructive behaviour which is a life-threatening situation against all of us should be curtailed, so he has to resign,” he said.
Bishop Dr Mensah also questioned why the ruling government would ask Ghanaians to vote them back into office when they have failed to address a problem they promised to resolve seven years ago.
“What business do you have asking the people to put you back into office? You haven’t demonstrated that will that you are committed to stopping this situation and so the Minister should have resigned a couple of years ago,” he added.
