On June 6, 2022, President Akufo-Addo commissioned 100 mercury-free gold processing machines for small-scale mining operators as part of his government’s efforts at ensuring responsible mining.
On social media page X an NPP page name ‘NPP Projects Bureau’ has highlighted this project again to defend President Akufo-Addo over recent backlash he is facing over the destructions cause by galamseyers in the country.
Commissioning the machines at the Independence Square, Accra, the President stated, the technology “has the capacity to recover 90% plus of gold from the ore, far more than would have been obtained from the traditional method using mercury.”
He also acknowledged the fact that the processing methods of using this technology will help reduce the pollution of water bodies and the physical environment.
Fast-forward 2024, Ghana river bodies have been heavily polluted with mercury despite the mercury free gold processing equipment initiative by President Akufo-Addo.
The Ghana Water Company on numerous occasions have said they are unable to treat the water for its consumers due to the turbidity of the water from this galamsey affected rivers, forcing the company’s treatment plant in some regions to shut down on some occasions.
Meanwhile, a three-day anti-galamsey protest just ended last night on 5 October 2024 with a vigil. With the final day of the protest calling for the end of galamsey and the release of some 53 democracy hub protesters arrested two weeks ago.
See post below:
For the record:
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has commissioned one hundred (100) mercury-free gold processing equipment, commonly referred to as “Gold Katcha”, for use by small-scale miners across the country.#StopGalamseyNow pic.twitter.com/WgXWEFWh4s
— NPP Projects Bureau (@BureauNpp) October 6, 2024
