The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to take decisive and extraordinary steps to curb the worsening menace of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In a post on X, Mr. Ahiagbah stated that Ghana has “crossed the rubicon” in the fight against galamsey and can no longer afford half-hearted measures. According to him, the politics surrounding the issue must give way to a unified national effort to preserve the country’s forests, rivers, and water bodies for present and future generations.
His comments come after the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced plans by the government to deploy soldiers to 44 identified galamsey hotspots and water bodies. While acknowledging the plan, Mr. Ahiagbah maintained that such a measure would be inadequate unless backed by stronger political will and legal force. He, therefore, urged President Mahama to declare a limited state of emergency over the nation’s forests and water bodies to give the military full authority to secure them.
Outlining a set of proposals, Mr. Ahiagbah accused members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of being complicit in the galamsey menace. He alleged that some NDC operatives were directly engaged in illegal mining activities and were destroying the country’s natural resources with impunity. He further challenged President Mahama to demonstrate political courage by fishing out such elements and punishing them to serve as a deterrent.
The NPP Communications Director also criticized the government’s justification for purchasing gold from illegal miners through the Ghana Gold Board (Goldbod). He argued that the practice only incentivizes and sustains the illicit trade.
“Mr. President, your justification that the government is buying galamsey gold because it is our land that is being destroyed amounts to promoting galamsey,” Mr. Ahiagbah said. “This is why galamsey has worsened since you took office and the Goldbod was established. Instead of creating a market for illegal gold, the government should be arresting and prosecuting galamseyers at the point of sale.”
To strengthen enforcement, Mr. Ahiagbah called on the President to fast-track prosecutions of illegal mining cases, building on measures introduced under former President Akufo-Addo. He further suggested that all galamsey trials should be televised to expose the financiers and operators behind the destructive enterprise.
“Mr. President, you have an excellent opportunity to impact Ghana in ways history will never forget. Please consider the widespread criticism of Ghanaians as motivation to do right and not an opportunity to be defensive, combative, and political. Ghana needs you to act decisively and end galamsey now,” he concluded.
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