The Gallant Cadres of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have joined growing call from civil society and religious organizations for President Maha MA's administration to declare a state of emergency in Ghana's mining areas to combat the devastating effects of illegal mining (galamsey).
Following a statement issued by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), University of Ghana branch, the Cadres have endorsed such calls, appealing to civil society to afford the government sufficient time to fully implement the solution from a technical perspective. They, however, query the duration of such an emergency.
In a statement issued and signed by the group on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, while endorsing these demands, the cadres denounced the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for eight years of ineffectual policies and political interference that exacerbated the crisis. However, they acknowledged that although the NDC government has not emerged victorious in the fight against illegal mining, it commended the current government, highlighting the successes achieved, including the seizure of excavators and other mining equipment.
To triumph in the fight against illegal mining, the Gallant Cadres of the NDC conclude their statement by calling for accountability from traditional leaders and all others, irrespective of political affiliation or social standing.
"We must commend Chiefs who are fighting galamsey, especially Paramount Chiefs like the Asantehene and Dormaahene, for disciplining sub-chiefs engaged in galamsey", the statements concluded
Below is the full press release:
Press Release
To All Media Houses
The Gallant Cadres of NDC
0208573712
0243179445
0542002741
0546572070
Declare a State of Emergency on Mining, if That is The Solution to Galamsey - The Gallant Cadres of NDC
The Gallant Cadres of NDC would like to call on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately heed to numerous calls from some Civil Society Organisations who have called for a declaration of a state of emergency on mining and mining communities in Ghana.
What UTAG, and Catholic Bishop Conference are not telling Ghanaians is whether the declaration of state of emergency will be for one week, months or even years.
For years, Nana Addo Bawumia Government politicized galamsey fight, and wasted eight years using wrongful approach to fight illegal mining Galamsey. The current NDC Government has produced lots of successes including seizure of Excavators from mining water bodies, but there is room for improvement.
The NDC is resetting the solution to the menace associated with small-scale and illegal mining. The government has been using state-of-the art technology to solve the onsite wastewater, river pollution and land destruction problems.
The call for the State of Emergency could be in the right place . Let’s give the government some time to fully implement the solution from technical perspective.
Ghanaians who are calling for State of Emergency have the right to do so. It is sad that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo failed to announce state of Emergency on illegal mining to deal with the Galamsey menace.
The Tarkwa Galamsey Sinkhole, Mireku Duker, Benito Owusu-Bio and Samuel Abu Jinapor are clearly responsible. Martin Ayisi, Bawumia and Akufo Addo aided the NPP's Galamsey Kingpins to destroy Ghana's Forest Reserves, Rivers and water bodies by licensing over 2,300 companies to engage in irresponsible mining leading to some mining under towns and villages without sparing homes, markets and schools.
Even then President Akufo Addo's House in Kyebi and his cousin's Palace were not spared.
The NPP drafted and passed the L.I.2462 which allowed mining in Forest Reserves and Water bodies yet Ken Ashigbe and his CSO colleagues pretend it was done by someone else.
Mireku Duker, Benito Owusu-Bio and Samuel Abu Jinapor who were members of Parliament and Ministers responsible for Ghana's Lands, Forests and Galamsey are the most guilty in the Looting of State Lands and Bungalows as well as the Galamsey menace and rape of the forest reserves...
In fact, George Mireku Duker was the MP of Tarawa Nsuaem where the sinkholes are showing up due to the activities of Galamsey; he has a Galamsey gang yet was appointed by Bawumia to head his 2024 Campaign Team as his advisor on Galamsey.
The NPP in 2024 fielded many known Galamseyers named in the Prof. Frimpong-Boateng Galamsey Report to represent the party in Parliament...
Then Chief of Staff Frema Opare's political advisor, Frank Asiedu Bekoe (Protozoa) who is named in the Prof. Frimpong-Boateng Galamsey Report managed to enter Parliament to represent Suhum in a disputed election under very bizarre circumstances...
Ken Ashigbe and his CSO colleagues have avoided demanding the Speaker of Parliament to sack all Galamsey MPs regardless of party affiliation until they purge themselves.
Instead UTAG, CLOGSAG and some CSOs are calling for the declaration of a State of Emergency with a Shoot-To-Kill order which allows for extrajudicial killings.
The Acting Chief Justice has signalled readiness to help fight Galamsey with Special Public Tribunals and urged government to speed up prosecution of offenders.
Let's demand accountability from all regardless of political affiliation or social status, Chiefs inclusive. We must commend Chiefs who are fighting Galamsey especially Paramount Chiefs like the Asantehene and Dormaahene for distoooling subchiefs engaged in Galamsey
The government interventions including the setting up of the GOLDBOD to cut out the foreign intermediaries in the export and sale of Galamsey Gold is good, the Blue River Guards and Tree for Life land reclamation and restoration of forest reserves is highly commendable.
Alternative livelihood opportunities being created through various Agribusiness interventions such as the Nkukor-Nkitikiti project will help wean some off Galamsey whiles the military flush out from the forests the Galamseyers and maintain permanent bases to prevent return of the Galamseyers.
It is true that the fight is on and we wish the victory is sooner but against the financial, logistical and other constraints; it is commendable the strides made in barely eight months by the John Dramani Mahama government. ALL PROCEEDS OF GALAMSEY AND CORRUPTION MUST BE CONFISCATED TO THE STATE.
Government cannot win the war against Galamsey and Corruption unless it tackles the Land Looting menace by tracing assets, real estate and properly audits all these transactions to curb the phenomenon of unexplained wealth fuelling Galamsey and Corruption in Ghana.THE BAN ON THE SALE, LEASE OR ALLOCATION OF STATE ACQUIRED LANDS AND BUNGALOWS MUST NOT BE LIFTED.
Government must never get into the business of selling lands especially after compulsorily acquisition from one set of Ghanaians for a stated public purpose such as Tradefair, Civil Aviation, Hospital or School only to allocate or sell to third-parties especially State Actors, their family members, friends and business associates.THIS IS PRACTICE OF STATE LAND SALE IS THE BEGINNING OF CORRUPTION, it facilitates Money Laundering and Galamsey.
Government must publish the status of all State Acquired Lands and Bungalows now.
The State must at all times work within the framework of the Constitution and laws of Ghana.
The Constitution is very clear about how to return State Acquired Lands to the Original Pre-acquisition Land Owners when the purpose of acquisition changes as stated in Article 20 (5)(6) granting the right of first refusal.
ACT 1036 requires all Stools to set up Stool Lands Secretariats prior to any Land Transaction becoming lawful; it also demands transparency and accountability in all Land Transactions and imposes high fines and long terms of imprisonment for any fiduciaries including the President, Ministers and other persons such as Lands Commission staff and Chiefs who deal in lands who fall foul of the law.
Comrade Richard E A Sarpong, Father Casford. The PRO, 0208573712
Ohemaa Akosua Borngreat, Deputy PRO, 0243179445
Mr F Kadan, Secretary. 0242776040
Mr Eric Takyi, Deputy Secretary, 0546572070
Mr Carrick Kpeglo, Chairman. 0542002741
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