Resolve impasse with govt without acrimony
The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has appealed to members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to exercise the full measure of mercy under these trying circumstances and remember that God is only concerned with what "you do right and not what others do wrong".
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He quoted James 2:13 in the Bible, which says that "mercy triumphs over judgement,” to make his plea.
"It is in this spirit that I use this occasion to call on the leadership of the GMA and all doctors gathered here not to be affected by the provocative comments by the government’s communicators in defence of your economic rights. As leaders, we must seek the truth and always aim at the common good. We cannot allow comments by people who are prompted by the urgings of their own interest to weigh us down," he added.
Osagyefo Ofori Panin was addressing the 15th annual public lecture of the GMA in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
It was on the theme: "The Galamsey in Ghana and its health implications."
"I, therefore, implore you to exercise restraint and accommodation and ensure a peaceful resolution of your differences with the government and put an end to your industrial action in the interest of the innocent and defenceless children and ordinary Ghanaians," he stated.
He was of the view that these were tough times, as Ghanaians had been told there were difficult times ahead. "I believe that we all know that we are not a perfect nation, so we are not a perfect people but it is not an excuse to keep doing the same things over and over again."
He said those must, therefore, be seen as a challenge and urged the leadership of the GMA to have the endurance and tolerance in such difficult times.
Osagyefo Ofori Panin observed that to be in leadership and advocacy in the country, whether in the environment, social justice or labour sector, put one on firing lines of attacks and insults.
Illegal mining
Touching on the main theme for the lecture, Osagyefo Ofori Panin said he was not happy about the destructive effects of illegal mining in the country.
He suggested that President John Mahama, being the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, should marshall all the needed forces to stop illegal mining by simply confiscating all the heavy equipment of those involved and also prosecuting them, since that would disarm the operators and halt their reckless and criminal illegality.
He called on the government to amend the Water Resources Act to ensure the participation of traditional authorities and institutions in natural water resource management, since there was the urgent need to guarantee the health of Ghanaians and the protection of Ghana's water resources.
Policy reforms
Osagyefo Ofori Panin stressed the need for broad policy reforms to address rural mass poverty and unemployment and the institution of measures aimed at streamlining small-scale mining operations through regulatory reforms that allowed effective participation of the youth in small-scale mining while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability.
"The fight against illegal mining and the protection of the public is a Herculean task and the government must adopt measures which must include legal and policy regimes, provision of training for the youth and a comprehensive strategy for an integrated small-scale mining industry that would create the basis for sustainable development," he added.
In his opening remarks, the President of the GMA, Dr Kwabeba Opoku-Adusei, also expressed regret at the havoc of illegal mining in the country and called for measures to check the situation.
