Speaking during a television interview on April 29, Blay argued that the challenges surrounding galamsey are deeply rooted and require more than political promises to resolve.
He believes the John Mahama-led NDC government would struggle to make any meaningful progress due to the complex social and economic factors that sustain the practice.
“There is very little this government can do towards addressing the issue of galamsey the way they are going,” Blay remarked, casting doubt on the opposition’s commitment and strategy in dealing with the issue.
Reflecting on his own party’s efforts, Blay admitted that the NPP administration, under President Akufo-Addo, also faced difficulties in curbing the illegal activity.
Measures such as deploying the military, banning excavator imports, and introducing high-tech surveillance were implemented, yet the problem persisted.
He stressed that fighting galamsey requires a comprehensive and united national approach that transcends political divides.
Rather than using the issue for campaign gains, Blay urged stakeholders to treat illegal mining as a national crisis.
“Sanitise the sector… be firm on punishments… This is a national problem and needs all of us to talk about it,” he added.
Illegal mining continues to devastate Ghana’s environment, polluting rivers, degrading forests, and threatening livelihoods, despite repeated efforts by successive governments to bring it under control.