Member of the NDC Communications Team, Wonder Mandilo, has criticised comments attributed to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the ongoing fight against illegal mining. He argued that the national conversation on galamsey requires urgency, discipline, and coordinated action rather than political exchanges.
Mandilo criticised the NPP for what he described as hypocrisy in its commentary on the fight against galamsey. He drew an analogy suggesting that a person who stops stealing for a period and resumes again cannot suddenly be regarded as a saint. He argued that temporary restraint from wrongdoing does not erase prior misconduct or redefine character. He therefore called for progress in addressing national challenges rather than political posturing.
He further accused the opposition of frequently insisting that those in power must fix problems. According to him, such attitudes create unnecessary noise and distract from governance efforts. He referenced past discussions on galamsey, including claims made during the previous administration.
“If you did one bit of what we are doing in government today, we shouldn’t be where we are. Or are you forgetting the drama with galamsey? The President at the time hypocritically said he was putting his presidency on the line. He even told us that in 2020 and he almost lost the election in 2020 because of galamsey. What are you talking about? Suddenly, these people have found their moral authority to talk to us about galamsey.”
Wonder Mandilo
He argued that Ghanaians have already rejected such critics at the polls and urged them to accept that outcome. Mandilo cautioned against attempts to project moral superiority in discussions on governance and environmental management. He also claimed that earlier assurances about deploying drones for anti-galamsey operations were not reflected in actual implementation.
He added that artificial intelligence systems introduced at the ports were evidence of current government efforts to strengthen monitoring and revenue assurance. According to him, these systems form part of broader institutional reforms aimed at addressing illegal mining and improving state efficiency.
Opposition Must Offer Alternatives Instead Of Political Noise
Mandilo further intensified his criticism of opposition commentary on illegal mining, insisting that the national fight against galamsey requires structured alternatives rather than political accusations.
“We have stopped responding to the NPP for their hypocrisy. I mean, this is double standard. What did the NPP do about galamsey? We have seen all kinds of drama. In fact, the President was fast asleep, including his Vice President at the time, Bawumia.”
Wonder Mandilo
He argued that political history on illegal mining shows mixed enforcement outcomes across administrations, adding that public expectations now centre on measurable progress and environmental recovery. He noted that earlier policy interventions included bans and enforcement directives, but implementation challenges limited their long-term impact.
“No, we believe that as an opposition party and today we are happy they quote us. They quote us because we are offering good alternatives. What alternative have they brought to the table?”
Wonder Mandilo
Mandilo maintained that the current administration inherited a complex environmental challenge requiring structured intervention and institutional coordination.
He added that revenue protection and environmental restoration remain central to government efforts, warning that illegal mining continues to impose significant economic and ecological costs on the state.
The NDC Communicator said the previous administration, accusing it of failing to take decisive action on the issue. He further alleged that individuals linked to the former government were shielded despite being connected to operations at the seat of government. He cited the example of Charles Bissue, questioning his role at the presidency at the time.
Mandilo also referenced the findings of a report by Professor Frimpong-Boateng, claiming it contained allegations involving senior government officials and discussions with the then President.
He accused the former administration of poor governance and corruption, arguing that its electoral defeat reflected public dissatisfaction. According to him, the current debate should now focus on allowing government to work.
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