Michael Donyina Mensah, Executive Director of CenPOA
The politicisation of illegal mining has made it extremely difficult to address the canker, which has now become an existential threat to Ghanaians, the Executive Director of the Centre for Public Awareness and Opinion (CenPOA) has claimed.
According to the policy analyst, politicians have refused to genuinely commit to tackling the issue and instead choose to make political statements at the expense of citizens.
He recounted how former President John Dramani Mahama, while in opposition, capitalised on the galamsey menace and promised to address it if elected.
He noted that some communicators of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) heavily criticised the previous administration and created the impression that only appointees of the then NPP government were involved in illegal mining.
“However, over time, we have all witnessed that members of the current ruling government have also been involved in the illegal activities that are destroying our water bodies and forest reserves,” he said.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Michael Donyina Mensah stated that Ghanaians expected the NDC to demonstrate the same urgency it showed in passing the Gold Board Bill by repealing Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2464, which grants permits for mining in forest reserves.
He questioned whether the NDC is prioritising the establishment of the Gold Board over the fight against illegal mining, saying:
“We want President John Dramani Mahama to understand that galamsey was a very topical issue during the general elections, and he should not treat it lightly. If he fails to act, the situation will only worsen.”
“The galamsey problem will be difficult to solve if we continue to politicise it. During the electioneering period, proceeds from illegal mining financed some political campaigns, making it extremely difficult to combat the issue.
“You have to be firm; otherwise, it will be unmanageable. The challenge is that addressing it may provoke backlash from illegal miners who supported political parties. Galamsey made former President Akufo-Addo and the NPP unpopular, and if President Mahama fails to deal with it as he promised, it will also affect the NDC.”