Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong, a known loyalist of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed deep concerns over what he describes as the “loud silence” of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) on the issue of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Sarpong questioned why UTAG—an organization that once fiercely campaigned against illegal mining—has seemingly gone silent under the new administration.
According to him, the university lecturers, who previously took an uncompromising stance on environmental degradation under the former government, now appear indifferent to the worsening state of Ghana’s natural resources.
“What has happened to all those UTAG kingpins who described themselves as the voices of conscience who had elected themselves to put duty-bearers on their toes? Why are they all hiding?”
Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong
Sarpong recalled that under the presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo, UTAG was relentless in its demands, even going as far as calling for a state of emergency to address the galamsey menace.
The association did not hesitate to join forces with organized labor and civil society groups to amplify their voices against the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.
Their advocacy was so intense that it led to an industrial action, a move that, according to Sarpong, convinced many Ghanaians that university lecturers were genuinely committed to saving the country’s forest reserves and water bodies from devastation.
However, since the change in government, he pointed out that UTAG has lost its voice.
“The lands are being destroyed at alarming rates. Our water bodies are being polluted the more, the natural vegetation is being depleted as well. UTAG is in Ghana, but its members are quiet.”
Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong
Environmental Degradation Persists
Furthermore, P.K. Sarpong pointed out that the problems UTAG once raised concerns about have not vanished.
On the contrary, he argued that illegal mining has escalated since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) took over governance.
He noted that despite this, the association has remained conspicuously silent, raising questions about its true motivations.
“Shockingly, the factors that necessitated the calls for a declaration of emergency are very much alive today, yet UTAG is not making the same demands they made on Akufo-Addo today.”
Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong
He asserted that their previous activism was politically motivated rather than being driven by a genuine concern for environmental preservation.
According to him, UTAG members actively campaigned and voted for the NDC in the 2024 elections, and now that their preferred government is in power, they have abandoned their supposed principles.
“Dear UTAG, what happened to the conscience you claimed to have? Why have you gone into a hibernation of a sort? Clearly, you didn’t care about Ghana, and you still don’t care what happens to this land.”
Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong
Accordingly, Sarpong did not hold back in his criticism, accusing the current leadership of UTAG of hypocrisy and self-interest.
He argued that the association has deviated from the values it once upheld and is now occupied by individuals who prioritize their personal gains over national interests.“This is not the UTAG of years gone by,” he noted.
He contrasted the present state of UTAG with what he described as the “true” UTAG of the past, which was led by men and women of integrity who genuinely cared about the welfare of Ghana.
“That UTAG was not peopled with elements who were motivated by self-serving ambitions and greed. That UTAG had men and women of integrity. That UTAG truly cared about Ghana’s welfare and well-being.”
Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong
Sarpong urged members of UTAG to critically examine their stance, questioning whether their current silence on the devastating effects of illegal mining is consistent with the principles they have upheld in the past.
He challenged them to consider whether their inaction serves the national interest or undermines their credibility as advocates for responsible governance and environmental protection.
Meanwhile, with the new government taking decisive action by assuming control of some forest reserves where mining is ongoing, UTAG’s response reflects a shift in approach rather than silence.
Unlike in the past, when the previous administration was largely inactive on the issue, the current government’s intervention suggests a commitment to addressing illegal mining.
Given this development, UTAG may see less need for the level of criticism it previously directed at the government.
Instead, the association could take on a more collaborative role, ensuring that policies are effectively implemented to safeguard Ghana’s environment.
However, Sarpong’s remarks raise an important point: Will UTAG continue to advocate for responsible mining practices under this administration, not through opposition, but by engaging constructively to ensure real progress?
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