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Joseph Whittal, the Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), has voiced his profound dissatisfaction with the way the government has been managing the campaign against illicit mining, or “galamsey.”
Mr. Whittal chastised President Akufo-Addo for not keeping his word to address the issue, which has had detrimental effects on the nation’s health and ecology.
“The Commission feels so disappointed in the fight against galamsey and artisanal mining. We are disappointed that no less a person than the President would put his presidency on the line.
“He promised. Presidents don’t promise and fail on their promises. For what has happened which has dire implications on the health of so many Ghanaians, I must say, the government and the President have disappointed Ghanaians,” he stated.
Speaking with BBC News’ Komla Adom, Mr. Whittal reaffirmed his support for the mounting calls for a state of emergency to be imposed in response to the galamsey a disastrous outcome. He cited the concerning consequences of water contamination and the health concerns that impacted populations in particular faced.
He drew attention to problems including rising stillbirth rates, congenital defects in youngsters, and an unsettling rise in diseases linked to the kidneys.
“I have heard some people call on the President to declare a state of emergency and I actually subscribe to that. Why wait? If you look at the pollution and the effects it is already having… it appears the government seems unconcerned and is ignoring all these worrying trends. I don’t understand,” he said.
The country’s water bodies and farmlands have been severely damaged by galamsey, which has caused widespread public pressure on the government to step up efforts to stop it. Mr. Whittal emphasized that President Akufo-Addo, in his capacity as elected leader, has a duty to act quickly to address the situation.
“If you win the people’s vote, you are supposed to work for them. So this is a disappointment from the government and from the President, who has a lot of human rights credentials. He should do something before leaving power,” Mr. Whittal added.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
