Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Member of Parliament for the Akim Oda constituency, has applauded Nana Adu Sarpong Addo-Aikins, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Abuakwa South, for his firm stance against illegal mining activities in the area.
The MP commended Addo-Aikins for exposing an illegal miner identified as the son of the Abuakwa South Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
His remarks come amid heightened tensions in the country’s ongoing fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
The MCE revealed during his appearance before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development that the son of the Chairman of the Abuakwa South NDC owns a galamsey site that he recently visited during an operation.
He disclosed this after the Oda MP sought clarifications from him regarding the said operations, which also went viral on social media.
The MCE stated that while he is not acquainted with all of the people engaged in illicit mining in the Abuakwa South Municipality, he is at least aware of one of the kingpins, whose mining site was run by the son of the NDC Chairman.
“Madam Chair, I’d want to put it on record, that site we were, was the site of our constituency chairman’s son’s mining site, and that was the first day of my operations and that was the first place I went to, to make sure I clamp down that activities, so that, I believe stays my commitment towards fighting the galamsey fight in Abuakwa South,” he stated on live TV.
Acquah reacted to the comments by commending the MCE for his bold and principled efforts in combating illegal mining.
“I was eager to hear that response so I could congratulate you — and I do. Well done for taking action to shut down your Chairman’s son’s illegal mining site,” Acquah stated, dismissing claims that members of the NPP are the ones engaged in galamsey activities.
