'Changing gov'ts won't end galamsey' – NDC communicator fires back at Catholic Bishop

The Dormaa East Constituency Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Maxwell Yeboah, has challenged calls by the Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, for Ghanaians to vote the governing party out in 2028 if it fails to end illegal mining, insisting that changing governments alone will not solve the galamsey crisis.

Yeboah argued that the continued destruction caused by illegal mining, despite the New Patriotic Party (NPP) losing power in the 2024 general elections, shows that the problem requires a broader national response rather than simply replacing one political party with another.

His comments follow a strong warning by Bishop Gyamfi, who urged Ghanaians to hold the NDC government accountable for its handling of illegal mining and vote it out if it fails to demonstrate the commitment needed to tackle the menace.

The Catholic Bishop, who is also the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, questioned the government's resolve, arguing that it has the authority and resources to deal with galamsey but has yet to show the necessary determination.

He further urged political parties seeking power in the 2028 elections to present credible and practical plans for ending illegal mining, warning that promises made during election campaigns must translate into action when parties assume office.

However, reacting to the Bishop's position, Yeboah acknowledged the concerns surrounding the government's response but disagreed that voting out the NDC would provide a lasting solution.

He maintained that the NPP's defeat in 2024, partly amid public dissatisfaction over illegal mining, had not brought an end to the activities, suggesting that the fight against galamsey must go beyond electoral changes.

Yeboah instead called for a collective national effort involving government, religious leaders, traditional authorities and ordinary citizens, arguing that no single political administration can successfully address the menace without the cooperation of other stakeholders.

He pointed to the establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the deployment of Blue Water Guards under the NDC administration as measures intended to strengthen the fight against illegal mining.

The NDC communicator urged Ghanaians to support these interventions while calling for intensified public education and sensitisation to address the activities from the community level.

He stressed that the fight against galamsey requires a united front, with all sections of society playing an active role rather than leaving the responsibility solely to the government.

EA