Lands And Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor says the fight against ‘Galamsey’ will be a joke if stakeholders are not honestly involved.
He said the fight against the menace would be a stab in the back if any of the actors at the forefront of the struggle do doings that render the fight counterproductive.
“…That for me will be a big tragedy and I think that it will be a complete stab at the back of the country, not just yourselves.”
Speaking at a stakeholder’s engagement on Monday, Mr. Jinapor stated that “it will be completely a joke of our partnership if you are pursuing your part of the bargain with sincerity and integrity and I as a minister and the government or the people on this side of the equation are doing something differently”.
According to the Minister, his resolve in the fight against the ‘galamsey’ canker is unalloyed.
“I want to give you that assurance, I can say that at least for the President, myself and for the key actors in the Ministry, we have absolutely no interest in this industry. Whatever we all come up with and conclude on as a course of action or the way forward, you can be rest assured that, that exactly will be what we will pursue and do so with integrity..” he noted.
The Damongo Legislature tasked the media to massively sensitize the public to complement the government’s efforts.
“It is not sufficient for us to talk about it and leave it just at the level of talk and speculation” the Land Minister stated indicating that there was the need for the media to concretize the notion that “big men” are involved in the business rather than speculating.
Mr Jinapor said there is growing suspicion and anxiety about commitment, stressing “me, I am fully committed and the president whom I take instructions from is also more committed than I am. It will be very foolish on my part to begin to have interest in these matters because at the end of the day it is also a question about my own legacy, my own career. I am not going to allow some few Cedis here and there to tarnish my career and destroy myself, I won’t do it”.
Veteran Journalist, Mr. Kwaku Sakyi-Addo urged media practitioners to have an interest in the happenings on the field and come up with in-depth stories in order to bring out the issues.
The engagement in an elaborate plan and a giant step by the Ministry to involve key actors to help address the issue of ‘galamsey’.
It is also expected to enrich the government’s approach and efforts towards the ‘galamsey’ fight.
Aside from the media, other key stakeholders present at the engagement were the Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, the Administrator of the National Alternative Employment And Livelihood Programme and other Directors of the Minerals Commission.
Source: mypublisher24.com