Richard Ahiagbah, Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has defended the government’s efforts to combat illegal mining, also known as galamsey while accusing the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of undermining the process for political gain.
In a post on X, Mr. Ahiagbah described galamsey as a major threat to Ghana’s future. He insisted that the government has made strong efforts to tackle the issue, despite the current condition of the country’s water bodies. He stated, “The government has put in bold efforts to defeat or mitigate the galamsey menace. Therefore, the current undesirable state of our water bodies is not due to the lack of government effort or commitment to the fight against galamsey.”
Mr. Ahiagbah argued that the NDC’s political messaging around the galamsey issue is partly responsible for the current challenges. He alleged that the opposition has been using the galamsey debate as a tool to gain votes, saying, “The NDC has been fueling galamsey through their counter-political messaging around the galamsey menace for votes.”
While holding the NDC accountable for what he called sabotage, Mr. Ahiagbah also emphasized the NPP’s continued commitment to fighting illegal mining. He pointed to plans by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s 2024 presidential candidate, to integrate chiefs into the strategy, expand community mining programs, and empower district inspectorates in mining communities. He believes these steps will help regulate and prevent illegal mining.
Mr. Ahiagbah urged Ghanaians to support Dr. Bawumia’s vision for tackling galamsey, noting, “These are solutions Ghana must vote for because we have to win the fight against galamsey for ourselves and posterity.”
