The Convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey says he disagrees with Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor’s statement that declaring a state of emergency on water bodies will be draconian.
Lands Minister Jinapor while reacting to the proposal by the Trades Union Congress and some civil society organisations urging the president to declare a state of emergency on water bodies said it will be too “draconian and far-reaching”.
“Declaring a state of emergency, that is in the bosom of the president, but I find that being far-reaching, [being] a very draconian measure to take.”
However, according to Ken Ashigbey, the Land Minister is not facing the direct effect of galamsey.
Dr. Ken Ashigbey in an interview with Happy kasiɛbɔ said declaring a state of emergency on our water bodies is the first step needed to top galamsey.
“The Minister can say that because the KNUST boy who died in the galamsey pit is not his child. Declaring a state of emergency on our water bodies is not draconian and far fetched,” he said.
