Collins Dauda, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, has laid bare a story that blurs the lines between development, politics, and the ever-burning issue of galamsey in the country.
Addressing Nananom in his constituency, the veteran MP confessed to actions that now raise more questions than answers about his role in the mining crisis gripping the Ahafo Region.
According to him, he personally facilitated the installation of two massive transformers in Wuramuso to power the heavy machinery of illegal miners.
“I went, took, and gave the items to the people of Wuramuso. However, after receiving them, they handed them over to foreigners… I installed one at the galamsey site where they were melting stones. Can someone who does this be said to not want people to work?” he asked.
The MP admitted that the town’s original transformer could not handle the electrical load of the illegal gold operations, with wires sparking and threatening to burn down the entire community.
Residents brought this to his attention and documented the hazards. Despite being in opposition then, Dauda sent photos of the dangerous electrical situation to the Minister of Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, requesting larger transformers to avert disaster.
Highlighting the impact of illegal mining on local infrastructure, Dauda disclosed that without galamsey, the existing electrical system would have sufficed.
In response to the urgent needs, he requested and installed two large transformers to bolster Wuramuso’s power supply, placing one directly at the illegal mining site.
“I knew that the reason we needed such a large transformer was because of the galamsey activities; without illegal mining, the original transformer would have sufficed for the town’s needs,” he stated without mincing words.
Addressing rumors and criticism, Dauda shared that he funded the installation costs himself after gossip spread in nearby Sunyani questioning the size of the transformer for a small town and alleging his involvement in illegal mining.
“Can someone who does this be said to not want people to work? If I did not want the work to continue, would I have gone to get a transformer?” he said passionately.
Dauda argued that if he had the power, he would not target “small Chinese workers” but instead revoke the license of multinational giant Newmont, Africa’s largest gold mining company.
“If, as a Member of Parliament, I had the power to revoke someone’s license, I would not target these small Chinese workers doing minor jobs. No, because the real, major work is here. In all of Africa, the biggest gold mining company is Newmont. So, if I had the power as an MP to revoke licenses, I would rather go after Newmont. But I do not have that power,” he boldly stated.
Dauda concluded by dispelling false claims from political opponents who attribute the presence of Chinese miners in the area to him.
“I have no connection to the Chinese miners; I had no part in granting their licenses, and I was not in government when those licenses were issued,” he clarified.
source: www.Kumasimail/Kwadwo Owusu
