The Member of Parliament for Akwatia Constituency, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, has expressed concern over the recent JoyNews Hotline documentary titled “A Tax for Galamsey,” which highlighted alleged illegal taxation of galamsey operations in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region.
In an interview on Nhyira FM’s Kuro Yi Mu Nsem, Mr. Baidoo described the practices as unfortunate, noting that it is disturbing for the district assembly to tax chanfang machines, which have been banned by the government.
“It’s unfortunate because the documentary shows they’re collecting tax on mining equipment, including chanfang machines. We all know the government has banned chanfang machines, so why are they collecting tax on something that’s been banned?” he told host Barima Kofi Dawson.
The MP welcomed the government’s decision to investigate the exposé following a petition to the President, saying it shows that President Mahama’s reset agenda is yielding results.
“We should commend President Mahama for quickly ordering the sector minister to investigate the Galamsey exposé. Similar cases have surfaced before, but nothing was done, so this demonstrates that the reset agenda is on course, and Mahama is a savior of this country,” he said.
Mr. Baidoo expressed confidence that President Mahama will hold anyone found guilty accountable, highlighting the President’s consistent warnings to appointees against involvement in such acts.
“President Mahama has consistently warned his appointees against involvement in such practices, making it clear that no one will be protected if implicated,” he said.
He stressed that the matter should not be politicized and called for the investigation to cover the entire Assembly management, not just the District Chief Executive (DCE).
“In the documentary, it was revealed that the money collected from these miners went into the Assembly’s account, so it’s not the DCE using his own task force to collect and keep the money for himself,” he added.
Mr. Baidoo commended JoyNews for the investigative work, noting that exposing such issues draws government attention and prompts necessary actions and reforms to address the problems.
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