The Volta Regional Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of frustrating the government’s ongoing efforts to curb illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
According to him, the NPP has persistently attempted to downplay President John Mahama’s interventions, painting his administration’s anti-galamsey initiatives as ineffective and unproductive.
Speaking on JoyPrime’s Prime Morning Show on Wednesday, the NDC official argued that such attitudes from the opposition not only misinform the public but also discourage the government’s continuous commitment to ending the menace.
He noted that President Mahama has shown strong political will in addressing illegal mining, adding that the current administration has made significant arrests and introduced strict enforcement mechanisms. “President Mahama gives ironclad assurances to the Ghanaian people that those involved in galamsey will be dealt with. You are belittling the efforts that the government has made so far,” he told an NPP representative on the show.
The Youth Organizer revealed that over 1,400 arrests have been made so far, stressing that even members of the NDC who have been implicated are being investigated. “When allegations came up that our National Organizer and others were involved, the Attorney General immediately directed EOCO to investigate them; that’s how committed this government is,” he stated.
He emphasized that such decisive actions demonstrate the Mahama administration’s seriousness in combating illegal mining, contrary to claims from the opposition.
The fight against galamsey continues to dominate national discussion as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and environmental groups mount pressure on the government to implement long-term strategies. Among the initiatives currently underway is the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), which has intensified raids on illegal mining sites and dismantled several galamsey camps across the country.
