Mahama's promise to use AI-powered plan to combat galamsey a vote-seeking gimmick — Ahiagbah

National Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah has dismissed former President John Mahama's promise to use artificial intelligence (AI) to combat illegal small-scale mining, also known as galamsey.

The ruling party’s spokesperson claims that the one-time president’s proposal to curb the long-standing environmental issues is a "vote-seeking gimmick."

In a post on X on Thursday, May 16, Ahiagbah wrote "The NDC are promoters of galamsey. Therefore, H.E Mahama's promise to use AI powered plan to combat galamsey is a vote-seeking gimmick."

He argued that resolving galamsey is impossible with Mahama and the NDC "because they are promoters and beneficiaries of galamsey."

Ahiagbah cited a 2020 video of then NDC Deputy Communications Officer Kwaku Boahen promising a "golden age of galamsey" and Mahama's promise to free convicted galamsey operators as evidence of the NDC's alleged involvement in galamsey.

The NPP communication director further urged Ghanaians to vote for Vice President Bawumia in 2024 for a "bold solution" to galamsey, stressing its resolution is impossible with Mahama and the NDC.

This comes after Mahama promised to introduce technological innovation like using AI to locate all small-scale mining operations, track excavators, and geo-fence all concessions to ensure mining is not conducted in unauthorized areas like water bodies.

He made the promise while speaking at the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Sunyani during the 3rd Transformational Dialogue on Small Scale Mining.