NDC accuses government of 'grand deception' in galamsey fight

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration of deceiving Ghanaians regarding its fight against galamsey (illegal mining).

Speaking on the Weekly Press Review on Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Television on Friday, September 6, 2024, Masawudu Mahama, a member of the NDC's communication team, claimed that the government's efforts to combat galamsey were a "grand deception."

"There has never been a genuine fight against galamsey under Akufo-Addo and Bawumia's presidency," Mahama stated.

He alleged that the government's actions were aimed at appropriating galamsey activities from unemployed youth to benefit high-ranking government officials and traditional leaders.

He said, "What turned out to be a fight against galamsey was a well-calculated plot to appropriate the galamsey activities from the unemployed youth of this country to benefit our chiefs and high-ranking officials in this government."

Mahama further accused President Akufo-Addo and his appointees of engaging in illegal mining, citing an investigation by Anas Aremeyaw Anas that implicated Charles Bissue, a former secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining.

He referenced a report by the former Minister of Environment and Science, Professor Frimpong Boateng, claiming it revealed that government officials, including Captain Edmund Koda, head of security at the presidency, and Professor Quarm, a former Member of Parliament for Mansu Nkwanta Constituency, had brought in Chinese miners to exploit Ghana's forests under state security protection.

"Professor Frimpong Boateng released a report stating that, at the time this government purported to place a ban or moratorium on illegal mining, officials of this government, including the head of security at the presidency, Captain Koda, and others, had brought in Chinese miners to invade the forests. These miners operated under state security protection," Mahama declared.

"President Akufo-Addo will go down in history as the president who oversaw the most egregious destruction of Ghana's water bodies and mineral resources," he concluded.