It’s only a foolish president who will attempt to stop galamsey two months to an election – Kofi Akpaloo

Leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Kofi Akpaloo has argued that the time is wrong for government to go after persons engaged in illegal mining (galamsey).

According to him, it is only a "foolish President" who will mount a fight against illegal mining just a few months before a major election.

Speaking in an interview with Atinka TV, Kofi Akpaloo said such a move by any President would be "stupid."

“Even if you are the President you won’t do it. It’s only a foolish president who will go and chase out people from the forest [to stop galamsey]. With just two months to an election, it’s only a president who is stupid. This is not the correct time,” Kofi Akpaloo argued.

With just two months to the 2024 General Election, many Ghanaians including Civil Society Organisations, environmental experts, religious leaders and people in academia have called on President Akufo-Addo’s government to end galamsey.

The rampant illegal mining activities in various parts of the country have not only destroyed forest reserves and lands but polluted many water bodies.

The development poses a serious health threat to the country according to health and environmental experts.