The Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, has asserted that his remarks about small-scale mining were misreported by the media.
This clarification follows the release of a video recorded at a campaign event on Friday, September 27, which suggested that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government would not take action against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Dr. Ayew Afriye’s comments faced widespread condemnation, particularly from groups and organizations advocating for decisive government action against illegal small-scale mining due to its harmful environmental impacts.
In response to the backlash during an interview on Eyewitness News on Monday, September 30, Dr. Ayew Afriye explained that his remarks were taken out of context, and the circulating video did not accurately represent his full statement.
“As I am speaking with you I still stand on the basic principle that there are irresponsible small-scale mining and there are responsible small-scale mining. We cannot put a ban on small-scale mining, that is not fair.
“That is to say that in the southern belt, along the coast, in the river bodies and in the Volta Lake there are people doing irresponsible fishing. They use DDT, and dynamite and we are aware but the state agency is after the illegal ones does that mean that we would ban all fishing in the south? he added.
Meanwhile, organised labour is set to meet on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, to decide on an action; either a nationwide strike or demonstration, after the government failed to respond to their demand of banning all forms of small-scale mining as a measure to stop illegal mining widely known as galamsey.