Story: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Former President John Dramani Mahama says if President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo were in another jurisdiction, he would have resigned honourably after failing over his pledge to fight galamsey.
Former President Mahama made this assertion in a one-on-one interview on TV3 on Monday, September 12, 2022.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in 2017 put his presidency on the line to show his resolve to fight the galamsey menace.
“I have said in Cabinet, and perhaps this is the first time I am making this public, that I am prepared to put my presidency on the line on this matter,” he told some chiefs at a workshop in July of that year.
According Mr. Mahama:
“If we were in some other jurisdiction, he( the President) would have resigned by now. By his word, he put his presidency on the line,” Mr. Mahama said.
He alleged that all the current illegal mining activities are being conducted on concessions owned by executives of the President’s party, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr. Mahama maintained that the President lacks the political will to fight the canker.
“If you go to the districts they talk about community mining. Community mining is the NPP party executives and the DCEs who are doing the community mining.
“So, they are the ones doing what they are doing, so how can you expect him to fight galamsey when his own people are the ones who are doing it,” according to Former President Mahama quizzed.