Outspoken musician and staunch supporter of the NPP, Kwame Asare Obeng has called on the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament to apologise to Ghanaians for proposing a “shoot-to-kill” approach in dealing with the illegal miners in the country.

According to A Plus, the suggestion by the Joseph Osei-Owusu is a “nonsense talk” that should not have been spewed by a “fine gentleman”.

The First Deputy Speaker made the proposal during a debate about the recent burning of 14 tipper trucks and an excavator in Kumbungu by the Operation Vanguard personnel as part of measures to stop them from sand winning.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament Tuesday, he said, “Mr. Speaker, the mining activities on water bodies are affecting our crops. That is the damage that those few people who want to make money from gold are doing to us”, he noted.

He added, “Mr. Speaker, extreme behaviour must be met with an extreme response. We are dealing with people who are determined at every point to make their money without regards what they are doing to the environment.”

This suggestion did not go down well with many who have criticised Mr. Osei-Owusu.

According to Security analyst, Kwesi Aning, the shoot-to-kill approach is an “unfortunate suggestions” by the Deputy Speaker adding that the comment puts Ghana in bad light in terms of respect for human rights.

Others including colleague MPs have shot down the “extreme” suggestion which they described as reckless and a needless approach to be deployed in fighting the canker.

Reacting to Mr. Osei-Owusu’s comments in a Facebook video, A Plus advised the legislator to eat the humble pie and withdraw his comment.

“Even armed robbers, if they don’t exchange fire with the police, police won’t shoot them. Even armed robber who takes gun to kill somebody, they won’t shoot to kill him,” he stated.



“The honourable Speaker didn’t do well at all. What you said is wrong and you must apologise to everybody. You must apologise to the Members of Parliament and even to the court because you’re telling people to disregard the courts. That is the beginning of taking the law into your hands,” he emphasised.

A Plus added, “Even government has not made a law that says we should shoot armed robbers how much more the poor illegal miner. Politicians steal money in this country but not even one person has been killed.”