The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has launched a scathing attack on President John Dramani Mahama, accusing him of valuing gold more than the lives of Ghanaians and the protection of the country’s water bodies.
In a social media post on Saturday, September 27, the Assin South MP criticised the President for what he described as an insensitive endorsement of illegal gold mining.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour cited remarks made by President Mahama at a press briefing, where the President reportedly stated: “gold, whether from illegal or legal sources, at least since it is our environment that is being destroyed, we must enjoy the benefits rather than foreigners enjoying it.”
The lawmaker argued that under Mr Mahama’s leadership, critical rivers such as the Ankobra and others managed by the Ghana Water Company have deteriorated further.
The Assin South legislator accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of scrambling for forests and rivers for profit, despite previously pledging to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining while in opposition.
He challenged President Mahama to live up to that promise by taking decisive steps, including publishing daily turbidity levels of rivers, banning water importation, and enforcing tough measures on galamsey. “It is unconscionable to destroy our river bodies and forests just to make money for your government and party apparatchiks,” Rev. Ntim Fordjour warned.
