The Bono Regional Chairman for the New Patriotic Party has indirectly accused former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, of being the person solely responsible for the resurrection of galamsey in Ghana.
Addressing the issues relating to illegal mining on the Nsempa Fie show monitored by Wontumionline.com, Kwame Baffoe stated that if President Akufo-Addo’s government failed in tackling the issue in his first term, the blame should be placed on the doorsteps of Mr. Asomah-Cheremeh.
Kwame Baffoe also known as Abronye stated that within a year that Asomah-Cheremeh was given an opportunity to serve as Lands and Natural Resources Minister, he signed concessions despite government placing a ban on illegal mining.
“Within one year, he had signed concessions more than what Collins Dauda, Inusah Fuseini and Peter Amewu signed…even with Peter Amewu, the records show he didn’t even sign any” Abronye posited.
He threw a shade at Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh by describing him as a “selfish” person who came into office to destroy Ghana’s water bodies in a year.
According to Abronye, the former Lands Minister kept paying lip service to President Akufo-Addo by telling him everything was in order when he knew it wasn’t.
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Abronye further accused him of not preparing a good report for the President and indicted him for being the “same person giving out concession” for people to engage in galamsey.
He continued that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under former President John Mahama failed woefully to tackle galamsey but then it took a bold leader like President Akufo-Addo to put his Presidency on the line to address the issue.
He therefore explained that it is sad that President Akufo-Addo’s own minister (Asomah-Cheremeh) caused his downfall when Peter Amewu had done a wonderful work at the ministry before handing over to him.
“President Akufo-Addo put Peter Amewu in charge and we all saw the good works he did at the Lands ministry.
We begun to see changes in our water bodies and Amewu was lauded for the good works he did at that sector but when the ministerial reshuffle kicked in, the person who took over from him messed up and galamsey bounced back“, Abronye explained.
After the havoc Abronye claims Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh left behind, he revealed that he (Cheremeh) is still calling on President Akufo-Addo to give him a new appointment and has threatened to commit suicide if not given any.
Abronye praised the new Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Mr. Abu Jinapor of starting on a good note by suspending all new licenses which issued under the tenure of Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh adding that his approach, is the way for him to survive and win the fight against galamsey.