The convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Ken Ashigbey, has hit back at Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe for accusing him of partisan bias in his long-running campaign against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.
Ashigbey, who also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, described Dogbe’s remarks as “false” and prayed that “God forgives” him for attempting to politicise his advocacy.
The exchange began after Ashigbey posted on Facebook on Sunday highlighting ongoing illegal mining activities around Simpa, along the Tarkwa–Takoradi road.
He urged President John Dramani Mahama to act, saying the local Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) could not be representing the president’s interests if such activities were happening “in clear sight.”
Responding to the post, Dogbe accused Ashigbey of siding with the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in his activism.
“If your government, in the eight years of your ‘coloured’ fight, had demonstrated the political will and clear strategies deployed in the last nine months, we would not be here,” Dogbe wrote.
He added that Ashigbey should “stop hiding behind political bias to gain a voice.”
Ashigbey dismissed the claims as unfounded, insisting his fight against galamsey had always been non-partisan.
“‘My government’? Well, some in the NPP said the same. Thankfully, Ghanaians can judge my actions for themselves,” he wrote in reply.
“My focus has never been on those who see every national issue through partisan lenses. My commitment is to Ghana.”
He said his advocacy group had presented concrete proposals to the Minister of Lands, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and to President Mahama during a recent stakeholder engagement on 3 October.
“This is a matter of public record,” he said.
Ashigbey added that his motivation stemmed from concern over environmental destruction, not politics.
“Perhaps you are not as concerned about the poisoning of our water bodies. You can afford imported brands like Voss; I cannot. My children depend on the resources here in Ghana — the same ones being destroyed daily,” he wrote.
He concluded by urging Dogbe to “stop misrepresenting” him and added: “I pray that God forgives you for the falsehoods you spread about me. The truth, and the internet, will not forget.”
Dogbe’s comments attracted widespread criticism from social media users, many of whom defended Ashigbey’s record as a consistent voice in the fight against illegal mining.
Source: asaaseradio.com
