If mining leases are the problem, cancel them all, not just 250 – Miracles Aboagye tells gov’t

The Director of Communications for the Bawumia Campaign, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has called on the government to revoke all mining leases if they truly believe licenses are at the heart of the galamsey crisis, rather than partially canceling only 250.

His comment follows Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah’s announcement that 250 licenses would be revoked in the coming days.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, October 4, Mr. Aboagye questioned why the government would choose a partial measure rather than a blanket cancellation if indeed licenses were facilitating illegal mining.

Mr. Aboagye said Ghanaians are still waiting for the government to take decisive steps, insisting that revoking just 250 licenses will not bring an end to galamsey.

“I was shocked when I heard the Lands Minister say that in the next few days, 250 licenses would be revoked. Why 250? Revoke all. Cancel all the licenses. After all, in your social contract, you promised that within 120 days, you would place a ban on all forms of mining for a while,” he said.

Mr. Aboagye criticised what he described as “excuses” and “half measures,” insisting that Ghanaians were tired of political rhetoric without decisive action.

“…What we need right now is action. If licenses are the problem, revoke all of them. Take every license out; you can do it tomorrow morning,” he charged.

He further argued that maintaining the current regulatory licensing regime only emboldens illegality, stressing that both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) risk undermining their credibility by suggesting that illegal mining thrives merely because licenses exist.

“The NDC have boxed themselves into a corner, and it will come back to bite them. To even create the impression that because there are licenses and regulatory regimes, that is why illegality thrives, is the biggest mistake,” he warned.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.