Ghana’s former president, John Agyekum Kufuor has advised Ghanaian youth on the need to be disciplined and law-abiding, while hitting the street to express their concerns about the growing threats of illegal mining also known as “galamsey” in the country.
He advised the youth that regardless of their grievances to pressure the government to take immediate action on the practice, they must not take the laws into their hands.
The former president offered the advice in an exclusive interview on the Angel Morning Show (AMS) on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, while adding his voice to the discussions on clamping down on the illegal mining practice wreaking the environment.
A group calling itself Democracy Hub among others, have been protesting to highlight the environmental destruction caused by the illegal mining activities. Some protestors who flouted the laws during their exercise were arrested and are currently facing the laws.
Organized Labour on the other hand has declared a nationwide strike amid their concerns to the government about the galamsey.
In proposing several solutions to help curb the practice, Mr. Kufuor observed that behaviors that have the potential to cause more problems for the country should not be deployed by the youth.
“Yes, organized labour and we Ghanaians have all realized the destruction to our water bodies so be it their protest, however, in the heat of the protests, I will plead with them not to let their actions and inactions lead to lawlessness,” the former statesman said in Twi.
He added:”So, their actions should rather amount to one that will solve the galamsey practice through identifying the problems to help stop it.”
The former President further noted that the fight to combat illegal mining requires a collective effort from Ghanaians.
“We should all come together as citizens and help find a common measure that will enable us to fight the practice,” John Kufuor entreated.
