By: Hamza Lansah Lolly/ Baba Mohammed Issahaq
The Northern NPP Concerned Youth Group has expressed disappointment over what it describes as the government’s ineffective handling of illegal mining activities in the country.
In a statement issued in Tamale and signed by the group’s leadership, the youth group accused President John Dramani Mahama and his administration of failing to fulfil key promises made during the 2024 election campaign to address the growing menace of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The group recalled that, while in opposition, President Mahama was a vocal critic of the Akufo-Addo administration’s approach to the fight against galamsey, often describing it as inadequate.
He is also said to have pledged to end illegal mining within four months of assuming office and to deploy artificial intelligence as part of a broader technological intervention.
However, the group claims that since assuming office, the Mahama-led administration has yet to make significant progress in combating the practice, which continues to pollute major water bodies and degrade forest reserves.
According to the youth group, “the situation under President Mahama is even more devastating, with growing reports of alleged involvement of government officials, party executives, and some Members of Parliament in galamsey operations.”
They also raised concerns about the role of some national security operatives, accusing them of taking over mining concessions rather than protecting natural resources.
The statement further referenced concerns raised by investigative journalist Erastus Asare Donkor and noted the Ghana Water Company Limited’s recent justification for proposed water tariff increases, which it attributed to the high cost of treating water contaminated by illegal mining.
The group has issued a two-week ultimatum to the President to declare a state of emergency in affected areas, a move the NDC had previously demanded when in opposition.
They are also calling on the President to demonstrate leadership by ensuring that party officials implicated in illegal mining are held accountable and by activating the promised use of artificial intelligence as part of efforts to curb the menace.
The statement was signed by the group’s President, Abdulai Abdul Jalil Opele; Secretary, Abdulai Abdul-Razak; and Communications Director, Alhassan Mohammed Soawii.
Read full statement below:
*NORTHERN NPP CONCERNED YOUTH GROUP BERATES PRESIDENT MAHAMA OVER THE POOR HANDLING OF THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL MINING ACTIVITIES IN THE COUNTRY.*
We, the leadership of Northern NPP Concerned Youth Group in the Northern Region of Ghana, write to express our disappointment and total dissatisfaction with President John Dramani Mahama’s poor and inept handling of the fight against galamsey in the Country.
For clarity, Mr. Mahama, as Flagbearer for NDC, before the 2024 general elections, spoke vehemently and chastised the Former President Nana Addo and the NPP government for the illegal mining activities popularly known as galamsey.
In fact, Mr. Mahama, with every bit of opportunity, vilified and castigated the Nana/ Bawumia administration, using all his energy and time as if he had the antidote to this devastating galamsey phenomenon.
For avoidance of doubt, the NDC in opposition, championed by some of the key National Executives also mounted pressure on Former President Nana Addo and the NPP administration and publicly made it look like they were interested in the fight.
The likes of Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and other NDC figures continued to use the fight as a major campaign tool ahead of the 2024 election for power.
Intriguingly, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi organized a press Conference at the bank of one of the rivers and used it as a yardstick to expose the NPP concerning the fight against galamsey activities.
President Mahama, in some of his engagements with the relevant stakeholders and Ghanaians, stated, “Galamsey is a complex one, and when I come into office, I will use 4 months to end it”.
He again and as part of his measures to tackle the menace, stated clearly that he will use AI to fight the harrowing effects of the illegal mining activities in some parts of the country, which have affected the major water bodies.
Fast forward, the NDC in their manifesto promised to ban all forms of mining activities and also promised to repeal the LI 2462 which allowed mining to take place in our forest reserves.
Disgustingly, it thus appears President Mahama and the NDC government are on a different planet concerning the social contract with Ghanaians, specifically the lofty promise to end the devastating impact of the illegal mining activities.
Notably, there has been news on the alleged involvement of government appointees, NDC Party Executives, and MPs who are deeply linked to the illegal mining activities in the Country ever since the NDC came to power.
Mr. Erastus Asare Donko and others who have been concerned about the negative impact of the galamsey activities have expressed disappointment and lack of confidence in the President’s handling of the issue.
What’s quite troubling is the alleged involvement of National Security operatives in not protecting our water bodies but in the deep involvement in taking over some mining sites and concessions.
As the leadership of Northern NPP Concerned Youth Group based in the Northern Region, it has become important for us to demand answers from President John Dramani Mahama, who promised to end the illegal mining once given the mandate to lead.
Mr. President, what measures have been put in place to address the pollution of water bodies? What has changed from the promise to end the devastating impact of galamsey in 4 months, or have you taken Ghanaians for granted?
We call on President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC government to fulfill the sweet promises made to bring an end to what is being described as a national security threat to the survival of Ghanaians.
Instructively, we are aware of the unfortunate quick turn and shift of the goal post when it comes to the promise by leading members of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, on their calls for the Former President to call a state of emergency in areas adversely affected by the illegal mining activities.
The current Lands and Natural Resources Minister and other members who are now cabinet ministers called for the declaration of a state of emergency as part of stringent measures to end galamsey activities.
Realistically, what has changed, and why is the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, reluctant to declare a state of emergency, as they were under Former President Nana Addo?
As concerned NPP Youth Group, Ghana is our motherland, blessed with natural resources, and it’s incumbent on our leaders, especially the NDC administration, to show a political will in the fight against illegal mining activities which have destroyed our vegetation and water bodies.
It’s quite disheartening when we take a cursory glance at the lukewarm attitude of the President and NDC activists who were on the Former President to deliver now appear unconcerned about the deteriorating effect of the pollution of our water bodies by illegal miners in the Country.
Not long ago, the Ghana Water Company Limited proposed an increase in water tariffs due to the negative impact of illegal mining, which has polluted our water bodies, thereby making it arduous for them to process the water.
Given the above-mentioned, it’s worrisome and once this proposal is effected, it will go a long way to burden the ordinary Ghanaians who are struggling to make ends meet and to put food on the table.
Therefore, we call on President John Dramani Mahama to fulfill his promise to tackle the illegal mining activities head-on and also arrest his Party Executives and the NDC MPs who were fingered and still engaged in the illegal mining activities popularly known as galamsey.
We also call on him to show leadership by declaring a state of emergency as promised by the National Democratic Congress, NDC, within two weeks as a measure to deal deservingly with the galamsey activities in areas where the illegality has taken place.
To conclude, we call on the President to also fulfill the promise to use AI as a measure to end the illegal mining activities to save lives, as it’s now a life-threatening situation, particularly in the areas and Regions affected negatively.
Former President Nana Addo showed leadership by putting certain measures in place to tackle and mitigate the impact of the galamsey activities, but the situation currently is worse and very devastating, to say the least under President John Dramani Mahama.
May God bless Our Homeland Ghana!
BY: The leadership of Northern NPP Concerned Youth Group.
President: Abdulai Abdul Jalil Opele
0249197068
Secretary: Abdulai Abdul-Razak
0542184296
Communications Director: Alhassan Mohammed Soawii.
0246388367
