Nana Ohene Ntow, a special advisor to Alan Kyerematen, an independent presidential candidate who has been vocal about environmental issues, has strongly criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his handling of the illegal small-scale mining crisis known as galamsey.
Ohene Ntow described the leadership failure in combating this issue as “humongous.”
Speaking on TV3’s Key Points on Saturday, September 7, Ohene Ntow accused the president of not meeting his promises. “The President has failed to fight Galamsey. He said he was putting his presidency on the line, but he has failed. He is not a man of his word.
If anyone considers this an insult, then I am sorry,” Ohene Ntow said.
The criticism comes amid mounting pressure from the health sector, where joint unions have called for an immediate ban on all small-scale mining activities.
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, Health Services Workers Union, Ghana Medical Association, and several other health sector organizations issued a joint statement, demonstrating their united front and highlighting the severe impact of galamsey on water resources.
“The Ghana Water Company recently reported a reduction in water production by over 60% in the Western Region and 30% in the Central Region, with a total loss of 50% of treated water due to pollution and silting from galamsey activities,” the statement read, emphasizing the severe impact of galamsey on water resources.
The unions have demanded that the government take urgent action to protect the nation’s water supply. They call for an immediate ban on small-scale mining operations and enhanced regulatory and enforcement measures.
“As associations and trade unions in the health sector, we demand that the government immediately bans all small-scale mining operations.
We also urge strengthening regulatory enforcement by providing resources to security agencies to clamp down on violators and ensure swift prosecution,” the statement continued.
The unions further urged all political parties to publicly commit to fighting illegal mining activities, emphasizing the need for concrete, signed commitments from each party.
