The Convener for Media Coalition Against Galamsey (MCAG), Kenneth Ashigbey is demanding commitment from the Attorney-General’s (A-G) Department to ensure ongoing fight against succeeds.
Mr. Ashigbey is unhappy the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Gloria Akuffo, has not responded to a petition the Coalition sent to her office in October 2017, regarding the poor handling of cases of illegal mining prosecuted by the A-G’s representatives in local courts.
He referenced a recent case in which some 10 Chinese arrested for engaging in illegal mining and was being prosecuted in a “wrong court” in Tarkwa, to buttress his point while speaking to the issue on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM, Tuesday, January 2, 2018.
According to him, the law was not completely applied in the adjudication of the case, he argued.
The Coalition also sent a copy of the petition to the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, complaining about the ‘light’ sentences passed on those found guilty of engaging in illegal mining, arguing they clearly are not deterrent enough to stop people from degrading the environment.
The CJ responded to the petition in December, directing the group to seek redress at the constitutional court, the Supreme Court.
Mr. Ashigbey who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Telecoms Chamber, wants President Akufo-Addo to bring pressure to bear on the Attorney-General “to respond to the petition and give us directions for us to follow.”
“We’ve not heard from the A-G, she needs to tell us what she is doing about it. We are appealing to her as well to support her president’s fight against Galamsey
“It’s as if she does not care about what is going on. At least she should show some care and say that she is working on this thing or tell us that ‘we are wrong we should choose another forum’ like the Chief Justice has done for us,” Mr. Ashigbey lamented.
This, he noted, would send a message to the people who are engaged in illegal mining that everybody is onboard to make sure that we win this fight.
Source: Myjoyonline.com