Ghana appears to be suffocating under the weight of illicit mining, according to political science professor Ransford Yaw Gyampo, who believes the country's Council of State or elders must exert their influence.
Prof. Gyampo expressed regret over the findings of the report by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, who chaired the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM). He stated that it appears President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was unable to keep his promise to put his presidency on the line in the fight against the menace.
Consequently, he indicated, it will be up to the country's elders, who are above partisanship, to ensure that the fight against illegal mining is won.
"I continue to question if we still have a Council of State that is credible. I question if there are still elderly people in this country. I question if we still have rational minds in Ghana.
"If we still have elders in this country who are expected to live above partisan politics and to examine matters objectively and without fear or favor, then I'm surprised that we haven't heard from them for so long," he said.
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Prof. Gyampo discussed Prof. Frimpong-Boateng's report on Saturday, April 22 on The Keypoints on TV3/3FM.
The report revealed damning information about the illicit mining involvement of key government officials.
Although some have denied the allegations, it is evident that these officials tacitly supported the illicit mining activities.
Among the officials cited in the 36-page report dated Friday, March 19, 2021 are Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, former Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Mafo, New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawyer Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, former NPP lawmaker for Manso-Nkwanta Joseph Albert Quarm and Kwadwo Osei Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, who died on July 1, 2020 as the Forestry Commission Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
According to the allegation, Sir John had a Chinese gang mine forest reserves on his behalf.
Prof. Gyampo stated that the nation is on a path toward mass suicide, and the sooner the brakes are applied, the better for everyone.
"I am uninterested in who said what and who did what in the report, but the fight against illegal mining must be taken seriously; otherwise, we are on a path to mass suicide."
Therefore, he urged the Council of State and the elders to prove their worth by intervening.
"Therefore, either the elders in Ghana do not exist, or if they do exist, they have a severe lack of patriotism, and in my opinion, they do not deserve to be termed elders.
"If I'm lying, they should challenge me; they should assert themselves publicly as elders of the land"