Professor Ransford Gyampo, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, has insisted that his position against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has not changed.
Prof Gyampo, who is also a Professor of Political Science at the University of Ghana, said the circulation of videos showing some of his past and recent comments on galamsey did not reflect any change in his position.
He said he had previously faced authorities who, according to him, admitted they were reluctant to fight galamsey because of fears that it could affect their chances of winning elections.
“I faced those who openly insisted that there’s no galamsey going on. I faced those who sought to attack me for what I stood for,” he said.
He also said some people attempted to weaken the group he led by encouraging the formation of splinter groups and seeking to bribe some group leaders to stop speaking about the issue.
Prof Gyampo said he also received threats to his life and faced defamatory publications over his position on illegal mining.
He added that some ministers ignored invitations to engage in discussions on the issue.
Despite those experiences, Prof Gyampo said his position against galamsey remained unchanged.
“I have never said galamsey has been dealt with fully and I have never shied away from calling for more to be done in addressing the menace,” he said.
He maintained that galamsey remains an existential threat and must be confronted more radically.
