“I Don’t Kid Myself”: Mahama Admits His People are Involved in Illegal Mining
President John Mahama has admitted that people affiliated with him are involved in illegal mining, as it has deeply infiltrated Ghanaian society.
This admission comes after one of his appointees, the Amansie Central District Chief Executive, was implicated in facilitating illegal mining, but no action has been taken against him.
According to reports, the president noted that operators often shift allegiance when governments change, allowing the practice to persist.
President Mahama said, “Even when one party changes, those who were running some operation, who went to one party, will go to the next party and say, now that you have come, come and take over this operation, and let’s share. We too will be getting small, this is what we are doing. And so I don’t kid myself that we don’t have our own people involved.”
He added, “And the work of the NAIMOS is not easy. They go to a community and the chiefs, the youth and everybody come out and resist them. And so I didn’t kid myself that we will be able to win that fight overnight. But we cannot relent, we must continue.”
Mahama made these remarks during a meeting with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, March 17.
