Speaker of the Ghanian Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin is under fire by fellow parliamentarians to invite Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame to explain the harsh measures introduced by government to combat illegal mining.
The administration of President Akufo-Addo has endorsed a ‘burn-on-sight’ approach adopted by operatives of Operation Halt, as a measure to curb illegal mining in the country.
“We will want to summon the Attorney General in accordance with Article 88 of the constitution as the principal advisor to the government on why the President should not be held in check for being in breach of the laws of Ghana,” says Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu while addressing the floor of the House, adding that, Mr Dame must be summoned in accordance with Article 88 to explain the stands taken by President Akufo-Addo in defending the burning of excavators.
He said, some evidence material must be provided which shows that burning excavators is sanctioned by the laws of Ghana and I wait to see that law.
“Extra Judicial Power is never vested in the President. So, the Attorney General will be brought before this house because we want him to lead the lawful Republic of Ghana to his oath to uphold the constitution and the laws of Ghana and to hold himself accountable to the laws of Ghana,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday recommended the court of law to persons who opined actions by the Operation Halt team contravene the laws of the land.
“The equipment, which is being used for an illegal or criminal purpose, cannot confer on the owner or any other person any rights whatsoever,” the President added.
But according to the Tamale South MP, there is no law found in the constitution that supports the burning of excavators, hence the incumbent is engaged in an illegality.
Some members of the Minority have explained that the actions taken by the Akufo-Addo-led administration are nothing to write home about since it suggests mob justice as the ideal way to rid the country of “galamsey” operations.
The Tamale North MP, Alhassan Suhuyini, stated that Article 995 of the constitution does not prescribe the burning of excavators as what should be done to confiscated equipment and machinery used in illegal mining.
For him, accessing documents from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to penalize culprits found mining in water bodies and forest reserves would be the best alternative to address its challenge.
But sharing similar a position as the President, Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has stated that seeking redress at the courts is the best alternative for critics against the tactics employed by government in the “galamsey” fight.
