Mahama’s Hands Tied in Galamsey Fight Due to Political Ties – Ahiagbah
NPP’s Richard Ahiagbah claims the former president is unable to crack down on illegal mining due to political alliances formed during the 2020 elections.
- Ahiagbah claims Mahama’s connections to galamsey operators prevent decisive action.
- NDC allegedly sought support from illegal miners in 2020
- Despite strong rhetoric, real action against galamsey is lacking
Richard Ahiagbah, the Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has alleged that President John Dramani Mahama is unable to take decisive action against illegal mining (galamsey) due to political connections with those involved in the practice.
In an interview, Ahiagbah asserted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) courted support from galamsey operators during the 2020 elections, making it difficult for the party to crack down on the illegal activity.
“Mahama is too lenient on galamsey, and the situation has deteriorated under him because he is compromised by the promises made on the campaign trail. The NDC actively sought votes from galamsey operators in 2020. As a result, he cannot take any bold steps—at least not in the short term—to combat the menace,” Ahiagbah claimed.
He further argued that despite strong rhetoric about tackling illegal mining, there is little effective action on the ground to address the issue.
“While bold statements are being made, the mechanisms needed to fight galamsey are lacking. The problem is worsening, posing a serious threat to our survival. Though galamsey is not a new challenge, we must confront it beyond political interests,” he stressed.
Ahiagbah concluded that the NDC’s alleged political gains from galamsey have hindered its ability to take meaningful action against the practice.
