The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (Goldbod) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, has strongly defended the Mahama administration’s efforts in tackling the illegal mining menace, insisting that recent water quality data demonstrates clear though modest progress.
Mr Gyamfi, while admitting that turbidity levels in several water bodies remain unacceptably high in 2025, strongly argued that official data from the Water Resources Commission indicates measurable improvements in many key rivers since the new government assumed office eight months ago.
“…a holistic assessment shows significant improvement in others, and that fact ought to be acknowledged,” he explained, stressing that selective focus on only worsening figures would not present a fair picture of the government’s performance.
To substantiate his position, Mr Gyamfi referenced comparative data spanning September 2024 to September 2025, which he said revealed positive strides in water quality.
Responding to critics who suggested February 2025 data should be used as the baseline for fairness, he subsequently shared detailed figures from the Water Resources Commission covering February to July 2025.
The data highlighted striking reductions in turbidity levels across several major water bodies. For the River Bia at Dadieso, levels dropped from 5,450 NTU in February to 372 NTU in July. The River Offin at Adiembra showed a similar decline from 5,740 NTU to 2,205 NTU.
On the River Pra at Daboase, the measure improved from 4,800 NTU to 2,820 NTU, while the River Birem at Akim Oda reduced from 3,824 NTU to 1,710 NTU. At Osino on the same river, turbidity decreased marginally from 4,960 NTU to 4,505 NTU.
“I share the view that these improvements are not enough and that the government has to do more in the Galamsey fight to significantly improve the turbidity levels of all water bodies in Ghana. Our collective survival as a people depends on this.
“However, it is important to acknowledge that positive strides are being made, even if modest at this stage, in the government’s genuine fight against the illegal mining menace.”
Sammy Gyamfi
Comparative Analysis
The Goldbod CEO contrasted the current administration’s stance with that of its predecessor. In his view, 2024 witnessed no real fight against illegal mining but rather a “fight against Galamsey fighters” themselves, which he said disillusioned many Ghanaians and influenced their decision at the polls.
He maintained that the difference under the new Mahama-led government lies in the political will driving the anti-galamsey campaign.
“Today, we can all attest to the fact that there is an ongoing fight against the illegal mining menace under the 8-month-old NDC/Mahama government. This ongoing fight, unlike the previous one, is clearly backed by genuine political will and commitment on the part of the President and his government”.
Sammy Gyamfi
Sammy Gyamfi underscored that despite persistent challenges, he believes victory over illegal mining is possible if the momentum is sustained.
He called for national support behind President John Dramani Mahama, describing his leadership as crucial to restoring Ghana’s water bodies and protecting communities that depend on them.
“The fight against illegal mining being waged by President Mahama is worthy of our support,” he declared, noting that collaborative effort, honesty, and consistency would be vital to lasting success.
The debate over galamsey and water quality remains one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental and governance challenges.
While Sammy Gyamfi’s defense signals the administration’s confidence in early results, critics continue to call for more decisive action, especially in areas where turbidity levels remain dangerously high.
For now, the data provided by the Water Resources Commission offers both hope and caution: progress is evident, but much more remains to be done to secure the future of Ghana’s water bodies.
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