NDC government is an enabler of galamsey through GoldBod – Afenyo-Markin

The decision to allow the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to purchase gold from small-scale miners effectively funds ‘galamsey,’ with the NDC government accused of supporting illegal mining activities, according to Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin.

Delivering his concluding remark to finally end the debate on the 2026 budget delivered by the Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Afenyo-Markin argued that the NDC government has surrendered to ‘galamsey’ instead of fighting it.

“This government has surrendered to galamsey activities. This government has become its enabler,” he said.

Prof Stephen Adei alleges President Mahama has 'legalised galamsey' through GoldBod

The Minority Leader pointed out that the budget’s provision empowering the GoldBod to purchase gold from small-scale miners contradicts the government’s claim of tackling illegal mining.

According to him, this move amounts to state approval of unregulated mining operations.

“In this budget, the government announced that the Gold Board will buy gold from small-scale miners. They are not fighting illegal mining. Instead, the NDC government is financing it. This gives it official endorsement,” he stated.

Afenyo-Markin also pointed the dangers faced by personnel tasked with combating illegal mining. He recalled the tragic loss of eight lives when a team was travelling to launch a programme against galamsey, criticizing the government for abandoning these frontline workers.

“Today, members of NAIMOS are getting hurt, shot at, and even killed while fighting a battle their own government has abandoned. Eight lives were lost on their way to launch a programme to fight illegal mining,” he lamented.

He further criticised the government for failing to show the necessary commitment to end illegal mining.

According to Afenyo-Markin, setting up a GoldBod to buy gold from miners who cannot be verified only encourages complicity rather than enforcement.

“Today, their own government is showing neither seriousness nor commitment to stop illegal mining. They have created a Gold Board to buy gold they cannot trace and from miners they cannot verify, a system built for complicity, not enforcement. If the government cannot trace the gold, it should not buy it,” he added.

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AK/SSM