Illegal mining and infrastructure financing have resurfaced as key topics in Ghana’s political discourse, with Paul Yandoh, Ashanti Regional Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), expressing concern over what he describes as political interference in law enforcement efforts.
Speaking on Wontumi TV, Mr. Yandoh criticized the government's inconsistent handling of arrests related to illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. He cited a recent case where six individuals were apprehended by the Asokwa Police, with their mining equipment confiscated. However, Yandoh suggested that political pressure may result in their premature release.
“Despite being arrested with all their machinery, there is strong political influence pushing for their release,” he said. “This undermines the efforts to combat illegal mining.”
He also dismissed recent warnings issued to illegal miners as ineffective. “Frank Amoah gave a two-week ultimatum for all illegal miners to vacate their sites, yet they continue to operate freely. That ultimatum was nothing more than political rhetoric,” he stated.
Turning his attention to infrastructure development, Mr. Yandoh refuted claims made by former President John Dramani Mahama, who alleged that $2 million from an Afrexim Bank loan had been misused by the government. According to Yandoh, the NPP administration secured a total of $346 million from Afrexim Bank, consisting of an initial $200 million and an additional $146 million allocated for road construction.
He emphasized that the Accra-Amasaman Road project was already 68% complete before the current administration assumed office, further arguing that Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, now the Finance Minister, should be fully aware of the loan allocations.
“Dr. Forson was the Deputy Finance Minister and Ranking Member of the Finance Committee in Parliament. He was actively involved in budget preparation and cannot claim ignorance about how the funds were distributed,” Yandoh asserted.
Comparing achievements in road infrastructure, Yandoh highlighted that between 2009 and 2016, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) constructed approximately 4,000 kilometers of roads. In contrast, the NPP, from 2017 to 2024, completed nearly 13,000 kilometers.
“The NDC’s current promise to build 5,000 kilometers of roads falls short of our record. This raises questions about their capacity to deliver on such a promise,” he concluded.
Source: MyNewsGH.com
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