The Member of Parliament for Effia, Isaac Yaw Boamah-Nyarko has accused President John Dramani Mahama and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of failing to tackle illegal mining, arguing that the situation has worsened despite the government’s promises to confront the menace.
The MP said illegal miners had become increasingly emboldened, invading water bodies, forest reserves, roadsides and private farms with little resistance from state authorities.
He said the government had failed to meet the expectations of Ghanaians, who voted for President Mahama partly on the promise that his administration would take decisive action against galamsey.
He recalled that before the 2024 general election, political leaders were challenged to commit themselves to fighting illegal mining, resulting in calls for presidential candidates to sign a pact against the practice.
According to him, the expectation was that the Mahama administration would take immediate steps to address the problem after assuming office in 2025.
However, he said the situation had deteriorated rather than improved.
“People have been emboldened to enter into water bodies. People have been emboldened to enter into forest reserves. People have been emboldened to enter into the roadside. People have been emboldened to enter into buildings where people have their farms, and they are doing it left, right and centre with impunity,” he stated on Metro TV.
The Effia MP blamed the situation on what he described as the government’s helplessness, despite the powers vested in the President to mobilise state institutions to deal with illegal mining.
He insisted that the current administration could not continue to blame its predecessor when Ghanaians expected it to deliver better results.
“President Mahama was not voted into power to make things worse. President Mahama was voted into power to make things better,” he said.
He added that although the previous Akufo-Addo administration faced criticism over its handling of galamsey, the change in government had not produced the expected improvement.
“The President and the NDC government have failed and are failing the people of Ghana when it comes to the fight against galamsey,” he declared.
The MP called on President Mahama to demonstrate stronger political commitment and explain what his government was doing to reverse the worsening situation.
