The Minority Caucus has formally petitioned President John Dramani Mahama, calling for swift executive intervention in response to two pressing national issues.
These include the violent disturbances that marred the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun and the escalating environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In the petition, submitted on July 24, the Caucus invoked Chapter 6 of the 1992 Constitution and accused officials aligned with the government, as well as some elements within the security agencies, of complicity or willful inaction during the rerun held on July 11.
The Minority described the Ablekuma North rerun as a “coordinated subversion of democracy.”
According to the Caucus, what was meant to be a peaceful vote to restore parliamentary representation was overshadowed by violence, impersonation of state security forces, and brutal assaults on journalists, electoral officers, and opposition party members.
Citing incidents at polling centres such as the St. Peter’s Society Methodist Church, Awoshie DVLA, and Asiedu Gyedu Memorial School, the Caucus named former Ministers Mavis Hawa Koomson and Dakoa Newman, as well as NPP parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, among the individuals reportedly assaulted.
The petition also highlighted the appearance of masked individuals in brown, police-style uniforms who allegedly clashed with the Ghana Police Service.
This raised suspicions of a “premeditated attempt to sabotage the integrity of the electoral process.”
Of particular concern was what the Minority called the “public glorification of violence” by government appointees.
They singled out Dr. Hanna Bissiw, CEO of the Minerals Development Fund, and Malik Basintale, Acting CEO of the Youth Employment Agency, for their alleged public endorsement of the violence.
The Caucus, therefore, demanded the immediate dismissal of both officials, the arrest and prosecution of all perpetrators involved, and a thorough, independent probe into the role of Chief Superintendent Fredrick Lumor Senanu.
They also urged the president to publicly apologise to victims and issue a strong condemnation of the incidents.
“We demand truth, justice, and action,” the petition stated, calling for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry under Article 278 of the Constitution.
The second part of the petition addressed the worsening environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.
The Minority labelled the situation “a full-blown ecological emergency,” citing data from A Rocha Ghana and Global Forest Watch indicating a 17% increase in river turbidity and a 9% decline in forest cover within six months.
They pointed to the Yonkamba stream in the President’s hometown of Bole Bamboi as a stark example of the devastation, describing it as “flowing with poison rather than promise.”
The Caucus accused certain District Chief Executives, political operatives, and security officers of shielding illegal miners, referencing investigative reports from The Fourth Estate and IMANI Ghana.
In response, the Minority made several proposals including, declaring a state of emergency in all illegal mining areas, repealing Legislative Instrument 2462, which they believe facilitates galamsey operations, prosecution of public officials and party operatives found complicit and establishment of an independent multi-stakeholder commission to oversee anti-galamsey enforcement.
In addition, they are demanding the strengthening of the Forestry and Water Resources Commissions and the launch of a National Environmental Recovery Programme focused on river restoration, reforestation, and public education.
They also urged the President to honour Ghana’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and other international environmental accords.
Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, speaking on the petition, warned that silence or complicity by state institutions threatens to erode Ghana’s hard-won democratic foundations.
The Caucus appealed to the President to act with urgency and impartiality, emphasising that “the nation will judge its leaders by their willingness to confront these crises with courage and integrity.”
Adomonline.com
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Below is the full petition:
