The Vice President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Professor Ernest Yorke, has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to take immediate action to ban all small-scale mining activities in Ghana, both legal and illegal.
They said that the president must at least show commitment to the fight against galamsey.
This comes on the back of calls by the association and several other health unions and associations urging President Akufo-Addo to immediately ban all small-scale mining operations, whether legal or illegal.
They warned that Ghana is on the brink of an environmental catastrophe that, if not addressed immediately, will severely endanger the health, well-being, and future of its citizens.
Speaking on the Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Friday, September 6, Prof Yorke emphasised the urgency of the situation and urged the president to demonstrate commitment through decisive actions.
“We are not calling on the president to put his presidency on the line, what we are saying is that he must be committed, he must show commitment because the power of this nation resides in him. Yes, the sovereignty resides in the people but power as it is, as an executive president, he wields all the power. So, you and I, the chiefs, the clergy, the DCE and everybody we all have roles to play but the president and the presidency for me and for us, we think that he holds the key to winning this fight.”
“Well, commitment not just by words but by deeds. I can say that I love you for life, but I am just saying it. How does it show? It will show through my actions. So, we are calling for actions not just mere words. Yes, they tried, we say the positive impact it had on the environment but somehow, we reversed gear, and things have gotten out of hand. So, Mr President, we beg you let’s reverse this gear,” he stated.
