Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has launched a sharp criticism of President John Dramani Mahama’s handling of the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
He accused the current administration of lacking seriousness and commitment in addressing the menace, which continues to destroy water bodies and threaten livelihoods. Mr. Aboagye argued that the government’s posture reflects more political spin than genuine resolve.
“There is a certain spin that this NDC government placed on galamsey, which created the impression that it is something that Akufo-Addo created and introduced. They said that the water is murkier because of Akufo-Addo”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Aide to Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
He further pointed to remarks by President Mahama during a recent media engagement, which he claimed exposed the government’s unwillingness to take decisive action against the menace.
“He made a point that nobody should expect that they can fix it in eight months, the damage that was caused in the last eight years. This is a lie, and it is gaslighting.
“It also heightens my fears and reinforces the fact that the man has no commitment whatsoever to fight galamsey. I say this without any contradiction”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Aide to Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Mr. Aboagye also insisted that the Mahama-led administration has not introduced any new initiatives to combat the illegal mining menace. He argued that Ghanaians were expecting a different approach but instead have seen only a continuation of old strategies that failed to address the problem in the past.
He lamented how disappointing the failure of the NDC government was in implementing all the new measures it lauded as “capable weapons against galamsey,” when it was in opposition.
“Now, everybody is at a loss. We keep asking you, and you are running all over the place. There is not a single new thing that this government hasn’t come to meet in the fight against galamsey. So, they have done nothing, and I insist on that”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Aide to Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Previous Interventions Repeated
Citing examples to prove that the government’s approach is recycled and lacks the innovation required to tackle the deep-rooted challenge, Mr. Aboagye recalled that previous governments had already engaged in “arrests, confiscation of excavators, and security interventions.”
“They go to the mining areas, arrest the people, and take them to the police station, then they seize excavators or even burn them. The late Environment Minister, Murtala Mohammed, announced that about 40 of them (excavators) had gone missing. What else have they done? They introduced Blue Water Guards. Tell me which of these has not been done before”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Aide to Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
According to Miracles, these recycled measures do not offer the decisive solutions Ghanaians were promised, or need to end galamsey once and for all. Instead, the situation continues to deteriorate, with polluted rivers and destroyed farmlands worsening across many communities.
Beyond accusing the government of repeating past strategies, Mr. Aboagye claimed President Mahama has chosen to prioritise the economic benefits of illegal mining over the safety of Ghanaians and the protection of the environment.
He concluded that without bold and innovative measures, the fight against galamsey will remain stagnant.
According to him, unless the government demonstrates clear political will, the destruction of water bodies and communities will continue, leaving Ghanaians disappointed and vulnerable to the consequences of unchecked illegal mining.
His remarks highlight the growing criticism President Mahama faces over galamsey, an issue that remains one of the most divisive in Ghana’s governance.
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