The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), John Kingsley Krugu, has stated he will not resign from his position because his resignation will not solve the illegal mining (galamsey) menace.
Appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Government Assurance on Thursday, October 10, he responded to the Chairman about whether he should consider stepping down, given the EPA’s inability to halt the environmental degradation caused by galamsey activities.
John Krugu, however, defended his decision to stay on in his role despite the agency’s perceived failure to curb illegal mining (galamsey) in the country, arguing that if his resignation would result in tangible improvements he would but emphasized that leadership requires more than just resignation.
He said, “If tendering in my resignation will stop you from seeing these [environmental] issues, I will do it yesterday. If I falter in what I’m supposed to do, and there are serious environmental consequences for the nation, I will resign. I don’t have a problem with that.”
In response to suggestions that his resignation might prompt other government entities to act, Krugu dismissed the notion, asserting that leadership is about perseverance and problem-solving.
“I also think leadership is about taking on the challenge and fighting on. For example, if I resign now, you will need to put in place another ED who will need time to even understand where we’ve fought to. That process will delay progress,” he said.
He pointed out that under his leadership, the EPA has already made progress, increasing staff capacity from 400 to 700 in less than two years.
He argued that instead of throwing his hands into the air and resigning, he should work rather hard to improve the system.
Mr. Krugu explained that strengthening the EPA and providing it with the necessary resources and powers is key to addressing environmental degradation, adding that other agencies with overlapping mandates must also collaborate more effectively.
The EPA boss, however, pointed out that the real challenge lies beyond the EPA’s immediate control, particularly in terms of law enforcement.
He appealed for greater support from Parliament and other stakeholders to enhance the EPA’s capacity to fulfil its mandate. He disclosed that a request is already before the government to expand the EPA’s reach to all districts in Ghana.
The Committee on Government Assurances chaired by the MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has been holding public hearings with selected Ministries and agencies.
The Minerals Commission and EPA responded to questions related to the devastation that illegal mining (galamsey) is wreaking on water bodies in the country.
The Committee displayed samples of water fetched from various rivers to highlight the seriousness of the galamsey menace.
Except for the Volta Lake, samples of water from other rivers showed heavy pollution of these water bodies.