The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has argued that many Ghanaians made their electoral decisions after assessing the promises and political narratives that dominated the campaign period. He indicated that voters carefully examined claims surrounding the economy, illegal mining and governance before casting their ballots.
According to Honourable Awuah, the New Patriotic Party administration under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo introduced several interventions to confront illegal mining despite the intense criticism directed at the government. The Parliamentarian explained that the previous administration imposed restrictions on mining activities and introduced measures aimed at promoting responsible mining practices across the country.
“Ghanaians are very discerning people. They listened to the promises and decided to test those promises themselves. That is why political parties must always be truthful with the electorate.”
Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah
From his standpoint, the public conversation around galamsey often overlooked efforts made by the previous administration to contain the crisis. He stated that the ban on mining activities and the deployment of security agencies were deliberate attempts to protect the country’s environment and water bodies.
The politician further stressed that illegal mining remains a complicated national challenge because of the enormous financial interests linked to the sector. In his view, the level of money involved in mining activities has created conditions that could compromise individuals assigned to enforce the law.
Honourable Awuah also suggested that security agencies face practical difficulties in the anti galamsey campaign because of limited resources and economic pressures. He observed that officers entrusted with combating illegal mining are sometimes exposed to inducements due to the profitability of the trade.
Meanwhile, the Manhyia South MP expressed reservations about expectations placed on newly introduced anti galamsey initiatives. He noted that some groups lacked the technical training and operational capacity possessed by the military and police service.
The Parliamentarian explained that expecting relatively new task forces to achieve immediate success where established security agencies have struggled would not produce the desired outcome. Furthermore, he urged policymakers to focus on sustainable and realistic approaches to mining regulation.
Turning to the economic importance of mining, Honourable Awuah emphasised that Ghana could not ignore the contribution of the sector to national development. He argued that the country must encourage greater Ghanaian participation in mining so that profits generated within the industry would circulate within the local economy.
“We need responsible mining because mining remains important to our economy. The environment is our life and it must be protected at all times. We should also ensure that Ghanaians benefit from the sector.”
Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah
In addition, Honourable Awuah urged the media to play a more active role in guiding national discourse with factual reporting and balanced analysis. He stated that the press has a responsibility to help citizens evaluate the performance of governments fairly and objectively.
He also cautioned against reducing discussions on illegal mining to partisan exchanges. According to him, meaningful progress would depend on honest national conversations and practical policies that protect the environment while preserving livelihoods connected to the mining industry.
Regulatory Safeguards Key To Preventing System Abuse
The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has also challenged the long term implications of weak regulatory enforcement within professional education and legal training. He explained that the effectiveness of regulatory structures would determine whether reforms strengthen standards or create future challenges.
According to the Parliamentarian, every educational reform requires strong supervision to preserve quality and maintain public confidence in professional institutions. He noted that the success of such reforms depend heavily on the commitment and independence of regulatory bodies.
From his perspective, the structure of legal education contains several safeguards capable of controlling standards when properly enforced. The politician pointed to accreditation systems, professional training requirements and qualifying examinations as important layers within the process.
Honourable Awuah stated that institutions offering the Bachelor of Laws programme must first receive approval before admitting students. He added that institutions seeking to run the Professional Law Course would also need to satisfy strict regulatory requirements.
The Manhyia South MP further explained that the National Bar Examination remains another significant stage capable of protecting the integrity of the legal profession. In his estimation, these mechanisms could preserve standards if regulators discharge their duties effectively and without political interference.
“The success or failure of the policy depends on the regulators. If they remain professional and firm, the system will remain under control. Once politics enters the process, the country could face serious difficulties.”
Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah
Meanwhile, Honourable Awuah warned that poor supervision could eventually lead to an uncontrolled expansion of legal training institutions. He recalled experiences from India where rapid growth in law schools reportedly created employment difficulties for legal professionals.
The Parliamentarian observed that the proliferation of law schools in India eventually forced authorities to intervene after concerns emerged about oversupply within the profession. He suggested that Ghana must learn from such international experiences while shaping its own policies.
Turning his argument to national planning, the politician stressed the importance of balancing access to education with quality assurance. He argued that educational reforms should respond to national needs while preserving professional standards across all sectors.
Honourable Awuah therefore encouraged regulators to act independently and prioritise competence in decision making processes. He added that strong institutions remain essential for safeguarding the credibility of Ghana’s legal and educational systems.
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