By Koshie Dzakpasu
UTAG’s call for an immediate halt to mining in protected forests, rivers and farmlands in particular makes no sense.
All minerals belong to the state. Once mineral deposits are found on a cocoa farm for example, compensation is determined and paid to the owners of the farm. Their demand in effect would mean an end to the mining industry because most concessions were once farmlands. Have they thought through what that would mean for the entire economy?
When God created the earth, did he add universities? Weren’t farmlands and forests cleared for the universities to be built? Why is Professor Sex for Grades Gyampo entitled to a livelihood, but those who work legitimately in legal mining not entitled to theirs?
What research contribution have our university teachers made to solve the problem of illegal mining?
NUGS and parents should go on demonstration to demand that the teachers call off their strike and return to the lecture halls to do what they’re paid to do. Illegal mining is an endemic socio-economic problem that cannot be halted in a month with mere declarations. Sex for grades is illegal but church elder Gyampo got away with it. The university of Ghana “suspended” him for a few weeks with full pay. In effect he was rewarded with a paid break from work.
What UTAG and others should be doing is asking the presidential candidates how they would solve the problem of illegal mining because the problem will not disappear after December 7. Akufo-Addo has done his part by initially banning small scale mining for two years and subsequently introducing Operation Galamstop, Operation Halt during which Major Mahama was killed by a community of illegal miners.
He empowered Abu Jinapor to take the aggressive step of even burning excavators, including equipment belonging to the NPP’s Eastern Region women’s organizer Kate Gyamfua. He was criticized by the same voices, including our all-knowing journalists and CSOs who today want the president to declare a state of emergency in mining communities with just a few weeks to elections. Do these people understand the political and electoral implications of sending thousands of security personnel to mining communities during election electioneering? Are they serious?
This leads to the conclusion that this campaign with Barker Vormawor and many known NDC activists thrown in is clearly politically-motivated. The timing is not an accident. Some of the organizations and journalists appear not to realize that they’ve played into the game plan of the NDC. If that’s the case, then they’re politically naive. As for the likes of Prof Sex for Grades Gyampo and his UTAG leadership, they’re clearly part of the conspiracy.
“Cash to Strike” is not beyond a professor who was caught in a BBC documentary demanding Sex for Grades.
