‘The Fight Against Galamsey is Failing Under Mahama’ – Ahiagbah Warns
NPP’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, accuses the Mahama-led government of failing to combat illegal mining, alleging that campaign promises to galamseyers have made enforcement difficult.
The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has criticized the John Dramani Mahama-led government for its alleged lack of commitment to fighting illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking on the Ghana Se Sen Morning Show on Lawson TV/Radio on Thursday, March 27, 2025, Ahiagbah claimed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaigned on galamsey during the 2024 elections and assured illegal miners that they would be allowed to operate freely if the party won power.
According to him, this promise has made it difficult for the current administration to tackle illegal mining effectively.
“The President is not focused on fighting galamsey. What we experienced in 2016 before he left office is making a comeback. As we can all see, members of the NDC feel emboldened to engage in illegal mining because they know their President and party will be lenient on them due to the promises made during their campaign,” Ahiagbah stated.
He further accused President Mahama of prioritizing the persecution of political opponents over genuine anti-corruption efforts.
Ahiagbah also alleged that illegal miners have brought in militants to protect their activities within forest reserves, posing a serious challenge to security forces attempting to combat galamsey.
Calling for urgent action, he urged President Mahama to repeal Legislative Instrument 2462, arguing that the law has made it easier for unauthorized individuals to enter the small-scale mining sector, worsening the galamsey crisis.
Ahiagbah further asserted that the Minerals and Mining (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations, 2020, have been exploited by politically connected individuals to gain mining rights with little oversight.
He called for stronger enforcement of mining regulations to curb the galamsey menace and protect Ghana’s natural resources.
