Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has rejected calls for his resignation on the way the government has handled galamsey, or illicit mining.
He disagrees with calls for his removal and says there is no need for him to stand down, even if he recognizes that everyone has the right to their ideas in a democracy.
In an interview on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Thursday, September 12 he said: “I have heard other groups say that the president should be impeached and so and so forth. In a democracy, with the greatest of respect, people are entitled to express views and so on and so forth. I don’t find the need for that,”
Calls For Resignation
The minister has been under fire from organizations such as the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries, which claims that because he and his deputies have not addressed the galamsey crisis, there has been environmental degradation, including the destruction of water bodies and the depletion of forests.The minister’s resignation has also been demanded by several clergy members.
However, Mr. Jinapor insisted that the government had made great strides in the battle against illicit mining.
He did, however, point out that in order to have the best outcomes, everyone must work together to address the issue, and the government is totally dedicated to this effort.
Asked whether he accepts to have failed since the water turbidity level is at 14,000 NTU, he replied: “I am not looking at this matter from the point of failure or success. The most important thing is that we have a framework and if we have to tweak it, we will do so.
“I have seen turbidity levels over the period go up and down… what is actually important is that we continue with the effort and that is exactly what we are trying to do.”
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