The Sad Situation Of Galamsey Under President Mahama Administration. A Call To Caution NDC Party Officials Engaged In It

Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey in our local parlance, has been at its peak since the new administration led by President Mahama took over on January 7, 2025.

This awkward and alarming phenomenon has caused more harm than good to the survival of our water bodies and the destruction of our natural resources.

Indeed, Doctors and scientists have cautioned people on the negative effects of this illegal mining once it's not checked or nip in the bud. They opined that this galamsey menace, especially on our bodies, has dire consequences for the health conditions of citizens.

Due to this, many governments have fought this illegal mining activity through various means to end the devastating effects on the water bodies, which many people use for their daily activities without considering its negative repercussions.

The Akufo Addo-led administration, on several occasions, acted with all the seriousness it deserves to tackle the menace of galamsey activities in some parts of the County where these illegal activities are rampant.

The Former President initiated some radical measures through some state agencies, the provision of the necessary resources, and the establishment of galamsey operatives to bring an end to these activities in our water bodies and others.

Despite these measures, the administration suffered hugely in areas in which some individuals perceived to be in the Party and government as the enablers of these illegal mining activities.

The then-opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, was on the neck of the Akufo Addo government by labeling all manner of allegations against some personalities that they perceived as the kingpins of these criminal activities.

With this above, the Nana Addo administration, going into the 2020 general elections, suffered hugely as a result of the negative perception of NPP officials' engagement in this galamsey.

As a result, the Party lost a significant number of seats in these galamsey-affected areas in the Country, and this was due to the NDC's propaganda campaign tool adopted.

The NPP managed to survive this blackmail by the loudmouth NDC Communicators who continued to drum home this negative campaign activity by managing to win the Presidential election.

In several instances, some of the NDC executives went to the galamsey sites to encourage those who were engaged in it with the message to allow the illegal miners to continue their activities without any fear once they vote massively for the NDC.

This message was welcomed by some of these illegal miners who took the campaign upon themselves to fight tooth and nail for the NDC to win power in the lead-up to the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Strangely, some perceived neutrals also campaigned vigorously against the NPP administration by mounting pressure on the government through various TV, Radio, and social media handles.

Admittedly, some came with genuine concerns by being objective in their stance against illegal mining activities by outlining some prudent measures to be adopted to end this alarming rate of galamsey, especially in our forest reserves.

The hypocrites who called themselves "neutrals" with a deeper understanding of nation-building and development only realized the fight against galamsey during campaign periods that happened under the reign of the Former President, Nana Addo.

They mounted their skewed and biased judgment on the NPP administration led by President Nana Addo, who, without any shred of doubt, fought this canker to the best of his abilities as the commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

The National Democratic Congress and the stomach direction galamsey fighters had a joined agenda and painted the Former administration as if they had done nothing substantial to fight against illegal mining.

Lo and behold, the Ghanaian people gave the NDC an overwhelming mandate to rule both Presidential and Parliamentary seats. This set tongues wagging as some Ghanaians wait for their so-called "Messiah" to lead the fight against galamsey in the Country.

The NDC administration led by President Mahama before the 2024 elections promised to tackle this menace of galamsey. However, what has been the success story so far in the fight? It's described as shameful, and there is no direction from the President and his ministers responsible for combating the menace of illegal mining.

Fast forward to the meat of the issue: since the President was sworn in on January 7, 2025, the issue of galamsey has been a sad and troubling one without any clear-cut direction from the government.

For the past two months, President Mahama has spoken thrice, i.e., his inaugural speech, state of Nation Address, and Ghana's 68th Independence Day Anniversary Celebration.

Unfortunately, on these occasions, the President has been mute and dead silent on this serious matter, which some considered as a National security matter. With all due respect, President Mahama has not shown leadership in the fight against galamsey or illegal mining.

What's disheartening is that NDC Party stalwarts and members have taken over all galamsey sites in some parts of the Country, claiming ownership because their government is in power. Notable among them is the new Member of Parliament for Aowin Constituency where the MP is being accused of mining illegally.

Infact, the NDC has not come out to distance or deny such allegations leveled against the MP, who was later banished by the traditional rulers of the Constituency. This has exposed the NDC and the government for their involvement in this canker waiting to explode.

To buttress my points raised above, the Joynews Reporter, Mr. Erastus Asare Donkor, who is vociferous about the fight against galamsey, recently reported on the devastating havoc caused by the illegal mining in the Western Region, Eastern and some parts of Central Region.

With the alarming rate of galamsey rise after the new administration led by President Mahama took over, the NDC has not come out publicly to deny the involvement of their Party Chairmen, supporters, and the MP mentioned.

These events have actually cast doubt on the readiness of President Mahama and the NDC's zeal and commitment to deal with this avoidable situation the nation has found itself in.

Mr. President, have we won the fight on Galamsey? To the so-called neutrals, where are you? To the NDC Party officials, why the silence on the fight against illegal mining? To Ghanaians, why are we unaffected again by this troubling phenomenon of galamsey in the Country?

Without any partisan motive, the above-enumerated questions need swift and urgent attention to combat the rise in people's engagement in galamsey as a source of livelihood. Mr. President, it's time for you to act and call your Party members to order and end the canker of galamsey to save the generations yet unborn.

In conclusion, I urge all and sundry, especially those who were on the neck of Former President Nana Addo, to find their voices and not engage in hypocrisy, dishonesty, and insincerity. Galamsey is on the rise and it's destroying our water bodies now.

Long live Ghana!
Shalom!
By: Abdulai Abdul-Razak
Tamale South Constituency
abdulrazakabdulai940@gmail.com

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