Manasseh Azure Awuni says Nana Addo’s fight against galamsey has been a scam
In 2016, one of NPP’s loudest campaign messages carried by President Nana Addo was that when elected into power, he’ll bring an end of illegal mining activities also known as galamsey. True to his words, after he was sworn in as President in 2017, he introduced Operation Vanguard [a taskforce set up by government to…
In 2016, one of NPP’s loudest campaign messages carried by President Nana Addo was that when elected into power, he’ll bring an end of illegal mining activities also known as galamsey.
True to his words, after he was sworn in as President in 2017, he introduced Operation Vanguard [a taskforce set up by government to combat galamsey in the country], as well as the Community Mining Program which is to ensure safe and responsible mining as part of measures to combat illegal mining in the country.
However, award-winning Ghanaian freelance Journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has described Nana Addo’s promise to ‘kill’ the activities of galamsey workers as scam.
Mr Awuni was speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show where he described the president’s fight as “a scam”.
“I don’t think there has been any fight beyond the antics. Many of his promises has turned out to be a scam because once you decide to put your presidency on the line, if you mean it, there are other things that you have to do,” he said.
He said prior to Nana Akufo-Addo assuming office, he [Manasseh] was very happy with the then NPP flagbearer’s promise to end galamsey in the country.
However, the progress of the fight, he noted has been hampered because of the involvement of “party people” in the fight.
“And this is not only in the area of ‘galamsey’ but quite the number of issues including the fight against corruption which he also was very instrumentally championing,” he said.
“It is very unfortunate that in 2020 we are still having this issue. I don’t think that beyond the words, the actions really spoke to the fact that this was somebody who wanted to put his presidency on the line,” Mannasseh further said.
“I expected that, when issues of corruption started, the involvement of party people which was a big mistake was going to be dealt with.
“Because, once you allowed the party people to take charge of certain critical areas of the fight, then it’s going to be difficult for the security agencies to deal with them,” he said.
