Pressure group Democracy Hub says it is considering legal action against government over its decision to deport foreigners involved in illegal mining instead of prosecuting them.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak had earlier announced that government’s policy is to swiftly repatriate foreign nationals engaged in galamsey, rather than try them in court.
“When we arrest any foreigner, we are not interested in prosecuting. Our first option is to take them to their country. I have officially written to the Attorney General,” the Minister said during a press briefing in Accra on Friday, April 4.
He added that deported individuals would be placed on a stop list to prevent them from returning to Ghana.
Reacting to the development in a social media post on Wednesday, April 9, lead convener of the Democracy Hub, Oliver Barker Vormawor, insisted that prosecution was necessary.
“Democracy Hub is considering suing the government over its decisions to deport foreigners involved in galamsey.
“We want those involved prosecuted and jailed. Why must foreigners be deported but only Ghanaians jailed?” he quizzed.
According to him, the group is holding governments accountable because they see them as part of the problem in the fight against illegal mining.
