Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticized the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for handling illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Gyamfi has urged Ghanaians to vote for the NPP to be out of office in the upcoming elections, suggesting that the party has failed to address the issue effectively.
In a post on his X platform, Gyamfi highlighted the NPP’s need for more progress in combating illegal mining over the past 2,805 days, despite initiatives such as Operation Vanguard and GALAMSTOP.
“If the NPP could not fight galamsey in 2,805 days with these measures, they certainly cannot address it in 86 days, regardless of whether a state of emergency is declared,” Gyamfi said.
He further urged Ghanaians to “declare a state of emergency on the NPP for destroying our water bodies, forest reserves, and lands and vote them out on 7th December 2024.”
In parallel, the Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) has supported calls to ban illegal mining.
GUTA, which represents traders and has a vested interest in economic development and sustainability, emphasized the need for immediate action to preserve the nation’s natural resources for future generations.
The union expressed concern over the adverse effects of illegal mining, particularly the degradation caused by foreign entities and their heavy machinery.
GUTA’s statement reflects growing frustration with the government’s inability to manage the Galamsey crisis effectively.
“It is clear that the country has reached a tipping point,” GUTA stated, stressing that the influx of foreign mining operations has exacerbated the situation.
The union called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to declare an emergency on illegal mining and direct all necessary resources towards eradicating the problem.
“We hope that the President will heed the calls for decisive action and address this issue before the end of his tenure,” GUTA added, suggesting that such a move would be a significant legacy for his administration.
The calls for action come amid a broader national discourse on the urgent need to tackle illegal mining, with increasing pressure from civil society organizations and other stakeholders for a comprehensive and effective response.
