Mr. Francis Asante, a prominent member of the Movement for Change and a financial expert based in the United States, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to adopt the organization’s strategic plan aimed at combating illegal mining in Ghana.
Asante, who is an advocate for Alan Kyerematen’s presidential candidacy, emphasizes the urgency of implementing these measures to address what he describes as a critical national issue.
In a recent interview on Dream 97.1 FM with Nana Yaw Asiamah, Mr. Asante responded to President Mahama’s suggestion to confiscate excavators used in illegal mining instead of destroying them. He stated that for the president to effectively tackle this challenge, it is essential to integrate the Movement for Change’s comprehensive 10-point plan into the government’s strategy.
“The government must adopt our 10-point plan; otherwise, it risks repeating the past mistakes of previous administrations, which have failed to make significant progress in the fight against illegal mining,” Asante asserted.
He highlighted that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various experts have already endorsed their proposals, urging the president to take immediate action.
Asante criticized the lack of proactive measures taken by the president before assuming office, suggesting that effective planning should have been a priority.
“Given his previous experience as president, His Excellency Mahama should have anticipated the galamsey crisis as a national security concern and developed a robust plan to address it from day one of his tenure. We all desire a successful outcome in this battle, and he should leverage our 10-point plan to achieve that goal,” he remarked.
While commending the president’s initiative to seize machinery used for environmental degradation, Asante called for expedited action.
“Illegal mining is wreaking havoc on our rivers, land, and forests, resulting in severe health issues due to the toxic chemicals contaminating our environment. Just as the president has established committees to focus on education and economic issues, he must urgently implement our policy to combat illegal mining. I am not suggesting the formation of yet another committee; we have a robust plan ready for adoption. The situation is critical, and swift action is necessary,” he concluded.
