John Mahama
Dr Joshua Zaato, a political scientist at the University of Ghana, has said that claims that President John Dramani Mahama is a listening president are not supported by the facts on the ground.
Dr. Zaato cited the president’s failure to declare a state of emergency to tackle the illegal small-scale mining menace and repeal the law permitting mining in forest reserves as evidence that he is not a listening president
“The Ghana Catholic Bishops told Mahama to declare a state of emergency, but he has not listened. He has been told to repeal the LI, but he is not doing it.. If he is a listening president, what kind of listening president is he? ” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, June 21, after another political scientist, Prof Ransford Gyampo stated on the same show that President Mahama is a listening president.
Prof Gyampo, who is also CEO of the Shippers Authority, further said that there is a need to tackle the political party stalwarts involved in the illegal small-scale mining (Galamsey) in order to address the menace.
He noted that while efforts are being made to resolve galamsey, the menace keeps festering.
“The more they are fighting, the more the thing is festering. There are some party people involved in the menace, and they are fighting the Minister and the IGP.
“We want to meet President Mahama to bring together a reasoned complaint and bring it to the attention of President Mahama. Yes, they are doing what they can, but the problem is festering,” Prof Gyampo who is also a member of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, June 21.
“We are calling for a declaration of a state of emergency. Will NDC lose power if a state of emergency is declared? Listen to the calls,” he suggested.