Former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Mustapha Abubakar, has issued a firm call to action, urging all religious and traditional leaders to refuse New Patriotic Party (NPP) members entry into their churches or palaces for campaigning purposes.
This directive comes in response to the escalating concerns voiced by numerous societal groups, including the Ghana Journalists Association, Labour Unions, Ghana Bar Association, Teachers Union, and many more, who are demanding swift and decisive action from the government to combat rampant galamsey activities. These illicit mining operations are causing irreparable damage to farmlands and water bodies, posing a significant threat to the nation’s environmental sustainability.
Abubakar’s statement is a scathing critique of the NPP-led government’s handling of the galamsey crisis, which he believes has been grossly inadequate. He emphasized the need for accountability and transparency, questioning the government’s claims of planting trees to promote afforestation. “Where are these trees?” he asked, highlighting the lack of tangible evidence to support the government’s assertions.
In light of this, Abubakar urged religious and traditional leaders to take a stand and deny NPP presidential and parliamentary aspirants access to their platforms for campaigning until the government takes concrete and meaningful steps to address the galamsey issue. By doing so, he hopes to pressure the government into acknowledging the severity of the crisis and taking decisive action to mitigate its effects.