The fight against galamsey has become a fierce point of contention as President John Dramani Mahama faces mounting criticism over what many see as a failure to act decisively on one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Journalist and political commentator Manasseh Azure Awuni has voiced disappointment over the President’s stance, arguing that his leadership in this area lacks the urgency required to combat the growing menace.
“President Mahama has been brilliant… From his first term and now, President Mahama has always demonstrated a strong grasp of all sectors. He’s not the kind that can be easily fooled by a minister or an appointee.
“On galamsey, however, the President has been very disappointing. The decay did not start in the last 8 years of Akufo-Addo, as the president said.”
Manasseh Azure Awuni
According to Awuni, the problem of galamsey predates former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration.
He noted that during Mahama’s first term, the level of seriousness necessary to tackle the issue was absent.
He added that the President’s current body language suggests there will be no significant shift in approach.
Awuni also challenged Mahama’s claim that disbanding the Inspector General of Police’s task force was a step in the right direction.
He questioned why the task force could not have been directed to verify permits when inspecting mining sites rather than being dissolved entirely.
He asked pointedly which legitimate mining concessions had been wrongly targeted by the task force, implying that the decision to disband it was ill-conceived.
In his remarks, Awuni warned that Ghana’s fertile lands, currently destroyed by illegal mining, have the potential to produce vital food crops.
He argued against the notion, implied by Mahama, that stopping galamsey would lead to widespread unemployment or deviant acts, saying this narrative only undermines the fight against illegal mining.
“Mr. President, so far, you have done well. Ghanaians are beginning to hope again in many sectors, but in the fight against galamsey, I feel more hopeless after listening to you.”
Manasseh Azure Awuni
Critics Call Mahama’s Position On Galamsey A U-Turn
President Mahama’s stance has also drawn sharp criticism from Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong, a fellow at the Institute for Economic Research and Public Policy and an outspoken supporter of the opposition NPP.
Sarpong accused Mahama of breaking a key campaign promise made in the run-up to the 2024 elections.
During his campaign, Mahama had vowed to declare a state of emergency to address all forms of mining in Ghana, presenting the move as a bold and necessary step to save the environment.
His pledge was central to his message of environmental protection, and he dismissed skepticism from critics, insisting that the declaration was both realistic and urgent.
However, during his recent media address, Mahama suggested that declaring a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort.
Sarpong described this shift as a betrayal of public trust and a complete reversal of Mahama’s earlier promise.
“Let us assume without admitting that we should look to the declaration of a state of emergency when all other measures fail, what measures have been implemented so far to combat galamsey?
“Whatever measures he believes have been rolled out to fight galamsey have failed as they’re not yielding any tangible results. Galamsey activities have intensified more now than ever.”
Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong
He argued that since other measures have already failed to produce meaningful results, the time to declare a state of emergency is now.
Sarpong stressed that had Mahama been transparent during his campaign about postponing the declaration of a state of emergency until other strategies had been tried and failed, Ghanaians would likely have rejected him at the polls.
He believes Mahama intentionally misled voters to win power and argued that, with the fight against galamsey showing no progress, declaring a state of emergency has now become the only viable option.
Financial Concerns Driving Hesitation
Sarpong further alleged that the real reason behind Mahama’s reluctance to declare a state of emergency lies in the financial impact it would have on the government.
By halting illegal mining operations, Ghana’s gold production would drop significantly, affecting revenues generated from exports.
He accused Mahama of prioritizing financial gains over the well-being of future generations.
In his view, the President’s refusal to take decisive action demonstrates that he is more concerned with sustaining export earnings than protecting Ghana’s environment and communities from the destructive effects of galamsey.
“The President has lied to us. Dishonesty is very much alive in his veins. He doesn’t care about the next generation of Ghanaians. He only cares about the revenues accruing from gold exports. He has been untruthful, putting it simply.”
Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong
He argued that the President’s campaign pledge was nothing more than a political maneuver designed to gain power, with no genuine intention of fulfilling it.
As Ghana continues to grapple with the devastating consequences of illegal mining, both environmental activists and political commentators are calling for urgent action.
The clash between Mahama’s critics and supporters highlights the complexity of the issue and the political stakes involved.
With trust in government at risk and communities suffering from polluted rivers and destroyed farmlands, the fight against galamsey remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation.
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