Ken Ashigbey and others at the forefront of the anti-galamsey crusade and consistently so must expect state-sponsored backlash in veiled forms.
Being an occupation which is putting government on the back-foot such activists must expect negative actions from state agencies in varying forms.
All of a sudden the anti-galamsey activist is having his integrity questioned and so will others. That is not to say that those who do not merit to wear the prestigious PhD title should do so.
Those who do deserve to be sanctioned because it is unacceptable to lie about one’s qualification.
We salute the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) for descending upon persons who have thrown dust into the eyes of Ghanaians for so long by claiming the PhD status when they do not qualify to do so.
We are however surprised that Ken Ashigbey’s right to the PhD title is now being questioned after such a long time. Better late than never we must admit but many Ghanaians think that this is tendentious and intended to decelerate him as he cruises on the anti-galamsey crusade.
During the recent engagement with CSOs and other stakeholders on the national crisis which is galamsey he raised pertinent questions among them a timeline regarding some measures to stop the destructive illegal mining on water bodies and forest reserves.
His demand for what will constitute the redline as the President said after which a state of emergency will be declared was particularly a difficult nut to crack.
Most Ghanaians who watched how Ken pushed his case during the engagement saw the posture of the Government Spokesperson moderator for the programme and how he asked him to round up his questions.
Defrocking Ken of a PhD should not kill his passion for ensuring that Ghana is rid of illegal mining activities. Those who think that galamsey should be allowed to fester in as much as it would inure to the national kitty and whose proceeds would come to Ghanaians do not agree with Ken and will hide under guises to silence him.
They want him dispirited so the rather vociferous war against galamsey would enjoy a respite.
As for the optics-seeking engagement with CSOs and other stakeholders, it has come and gone the outcome heading for another publication earmarked for the shelves at the Presidency and a copy for the Ministry of Lands And Natural Resources.
The correlation between the proceeds from the water bodies and forest reserves- destroying occupation of the youth in galamsey and the increasing quantity of gold being stockpiled by the Goldbod is palpable.
Goldbod is indirectly and knowingly providing impetus for illegal mining. As for the anti-galamsey crusaders let them ready themselves for more character assassination manouvres by a government which stands to gain from galamsey the dangerous repercussions on the people of Ghana notwithstanding.
