The President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has criticised President Akufo-Addo for his perceived inaction against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey.

According to Prof Eric Abavare, the president has refused to address the galamsey issue effectively.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on September 12, he said, “That man is a big liar. I am sad because I have to say this on air. Once upon a time, when issues of Prof Frimpong Manso, the former Minister of Environment was seizing people's excavators, the president made us believe he was doing the wrong thing, but today I believe him.”

Prof Abavare argued that the President possesses the authority and resources to tackle the galamsey problem but appears unwilling to do so.

“Nana Addo has all the powers to stop galamsey if he wants to. The point is that, he doesn’t want to. He has all it takes to stop galamsey now. If they are not willing to solve the problem, they must not be in office. They must resign. I call for the resignation of the president for his massive failure to fight galamsey,” he said.

Prof Abavare also criticised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Mahama, for promising to allow galamsey activities and release individuals arrested for illegal mining if elected.

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“He doesn’t even qualify to be the president of Ghana. This issue of galamsey, we know the solution. We know those involved. We know what we can do to solve it. The issue is that, we don’t want to do it. If the president really wants to solve it, he will say that from now, he does not want to see any earth moving machine on our road anywhere. That statement alone will suffice everything,” he said.

Conversations on galamsey and its dire impact arose after the management of Ghana Water Company Limited in the Central Region announced that there would be challenges with water supply in Cape Coast, Elmina, and surrounding communities.

• Read also: GWL warns of severe water supply challenges in Cape Coast and Elmina due to ‘galamsey’ in River Pra

The company revealed that the recent demand-supply gap is due to inadequate raw water received at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant (WTP) caused by galamsey activities.

Environmental groups, civil society organisations, and concerned citizens have since voiced their frustrations over the lack of significant progress in curbing galamsey activities, which have resulted in the contamination of rivers, destruction of farmlands, and loss of livelihoods for many Ghanaians.

Meanwhile, Labour Unions have threatened to go on strike if the menace is not curtailed by the end of September.

Other influential associations have also pledged to hit the streets should the government fail to address the issue.