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NDC has no excuse not to repeal L.I. 2462 – Engineer Michael Kosi Dedey
Engineer and analyst, Michael Kosi Dedey, has criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for failing to repeal L.I. 2462, a law regulating small-scale mining, stressing that the party has no excuse given its majority in Parliament.
Mr. Dedey explained that the governing party cannot blame the opposition for delays in addressing illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
According to him, the inaction of the government shows a lack of commitment to the fight against the menace.
“The NDC has no excuse. With their majority in Parliament, nothing stops them from repealing L.I. 2462,” he noted.
He argued that both the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have not conducted themselves well in government, especially when it comes to tackling the galamsey problem.
“So you see, when you say that you are fighting the others, and then when you come, you also do the same thing, it’s like fetching water with a basket — by the time you get home, it’s empty,” he explained.
Mr. Dedey urged the government to take proactive measures to stop people from engaging in illegal mining rather than waiting to punish offenders after the damage is done.
“The law must not just deal with people who have already committed illegal acts, but even those attempting to go into it. We should prevent them before they start,” he emphasized.
He also questioned why the government had failed to review or repeal the mining regulation despite setting up a new Gold Board months ago.
“You set up a whole Gold Board, but you can’t deal with the law? It shows that governments do not think before coming into power. They just make promises, come into office, and start making excuses,” he pointed out.
Mr. Dedey believes the government’s lack of planning and poor leadership have worsened the environmental and economic consequences of illegal mining, including the destruction of water bodies and rising costs of water treatment.
He described the estimated four million people involved in illegal mining as a “national disaster,” warning that the situation must not be taken lightly.
He criticized President Mahama’s recent comments suggesting that he was waiting for advice or budgetary support to fight galamsey, describing it as weak leadership.
“For the president to say he’s waiting for the Security Council or the Finance Minister to make financial provisions is worrying. The president chairs the Security Council, and the Finance Minister presents the budget in his name,” Mr. Dedey stated.
He concluded that the government must show real commitment and take decisive action if it truly wants to end the galamsey menace.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Minority in Parliament has strongly objected to any planned merger or partnership between the government and Telecel, describing the deal as “technically, operationally, and financially unconscionable.”
Ranking Member on the Communications Committee, Matthew Nyindam, raised the concern during a media briefing in Parliament.
He questioned why both the Minister of Communications and Telecel would publicly announce a merger and then suddenly go silent on the matter.
“We object to any deal with Telecel by way of merger, absorption, or acquisition. This is a scheme to dispose of a national asset to fill private pockets,” Mr. Nyindam stated.
He argued that Telecel has not demonstrated any special technical or operational expertise that staff and management of AT (formerly AirtelTigo) do not already possess.
According to him, Telecel had earlier promised to invest $500 million after acquiring Vodafone Ghana but failed to do so, a situation he fears could repeat itself if the government allows another deal.
Mr. Nyindam claimed that Telecel was already indebted to the tune of $400 million, adding that the company only seeks to benefit from AT’s over three million customers to expand its own base without making any real investment.
“The government must not surrender the capacity of a state-owned company to a private entity through majority ownership. There is no clear plan to protect the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of workers,” he stressed.
The Minority Caucus is therefore calling on the government to halt any discussions or agreements with Telecel regarding the proposed merger, insisting that the deal is not in the national interest.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has suspended all fines issued by its Compliance Team on the country’s roads, effective Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Authority explained that the suspension follows feedback from the public and further consultations with stakeholders.
The Compliance Team’s enforcement exercise, which had been intensified in recent weeks, was aimed at ensuring that drivers and vehicles met all legal requirements before operating on the road.
However, the DVLA said it was pausing the activity to allow for more engagement and public education on the exercise before it is reintroduced.
While assuring the public of its commitment to promoting safety and compliance, the Authority emphasized that the suspension only affects the fines and charges being enforced by the Compliance Team.
It added that all legal requirements for drivers and vehicles to operate on Ghana’s roads remain in force.
By: Jacob Aggrey
