Formal UN advisor on Governance, Prof. Baffuor Agyemang-Duah says President Akufo-Addo has failed in handling the illegal mining also known as the galamsey menace in the country.

This comes on the back of the government indicating that it was surprised over the decision by Organized Labour to proceed with a nationwide strike scheduled for October 10, despite recent efforts to address the issue of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

Organized Labour has been advocating a more robust response to the illegal mining crisis, including calls for the president to declare a state of emergency and introduce long-term measures to combat the issue.

In a statement released on Monday, October 7, information minister Fatimatu Abubakar expressed shock at Organized Labour’s insistence on moving forward with the strike.

“The government’s dedication to eradicating illegal mining remains unwavering. We had hoped that our ongoing efforts would be acknowledged, especially in light of recent progress,” Abubakar stated.

However, in an interview on Morning Starr with Naana Dedei Tettey, the Governance Expert shared his disappointment in the President for not taking drastic measures on the crisis.

Prof. Baffour argues that the President’s lack of response is intensifying the situation, which he described as an “existential threat” to the nation.

“This is truly a national crisis, and if our foundations are destroyed, I don’t know where we will be,” Prof. Agyemang-Duah stated.

He continued: “The President seems to be failing in his leadership on this. It’s in crisis that leadership should shine. If you are a leader and there are no crises, nobody knows what you have made.”