Dr Joshua Zaato, Senior Fellow at Africa Policy Lens (APL), has criticised the government over its handling of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, arguing that efforts to honour the eight victims of the August 6 helicopter crash must be matched with decisive action to protect Ghana’s forests and water bodies.
He said the victims died while travelling to the Ashanti Region on official duty and were part of efforts to address challenges facing the country, including illegal mining.
His comments came after the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration on Thursday, August 6, which coincided with the one-year commemoration of the helicopter crash. A move which has been criticised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The NPP said its demonstration was aimed at defending the rule of law, constitutional governance and democratic accountability, and formed part of its campaign against what it describes as political persecution, selective justice and the abuse of state institutions.
Speaking in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, August 8, Dr Zaato said he supported the demonstration despite it coinciding with the memorial service for the crash victim
He asserted that the government’s response to galamsey should be central to the commemoration of the victims.
He argued that the deaths should compel the government to intensify efforts to protect the country’s natural resources.
“Galamsey is killing us. Our river bodies are being poisoned. Our water is being poisoned. These patriots were on their way to find solutions to end galamsey,” he said.
“If they were alive, we would probably be winning the galamsey war; our food would be less poisoned; our forests would have been healthier, but they died,” he added.
Dr Zaato questioned the focus on memorial activities without, in his view, sufficient action to address the challenges the victims were working to confront.
“They died, and we dropped the ball. You are busy building monuments to their memories, busy holding church services to their memories. But what they died and fought to save the forests, you have ignored it. What have you done to save the forests?” he asked.
He also defended the decision by members of the opposition to participate in the NPP demonstration on the same day as the memorial activities, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the victims’ deaths should not be separated from the issues they were seeking to address.
“Anybody who says that doesn’t go and demonstrate on a day that they’re having solemn mass, the person should understand this question,” he said.
“The reason they died is not for you to have a memorial service, but to end galamsey. Did you do that?” he asked.
Dr Zaato further challenged the government to demonstrate its commitment to the legacy of the victims through concrete action against illegal mining.
“Don’t sit here and say that you care more about the people who died when you don’t care about what killed them,” he said.
The memorial service brought together government officials, religious leaders, traditional authorities, members of the Ghana Armed Forces, bereaved families and other dignitaries to commemorate the eight individuals who died in the crash.
The victims died when a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region while travelling from Accra to the region on official duty.
Those who died were Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed; NDC Vice Chairman Dr Samuel Sarpong; former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; Flight Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah; Wing Commander Peter Bafemi Anala; and Flight Lieutenant Manaen Twum Ampadu.
