National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has stated that illegal mining, known as galamsey, has worsened under the current administration compared to 2024. He challenged the government to account for its campaign promises on tackling illegal mining, arguing that measures implemented have failed to produce environmental improvements. Mr Aboagye criticised the approach adopted by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), questioning why enforcement operations focused on tracking excavators when open and supported illegal mining activities had not been adequately addressed.
Mr Aboagye's comments follow a confrontation at Manso Keniago in the Ashanti Region, where six people died during an anti-galamsey operation. The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of the government's strategy. He pointed to the continued pollution of water bodies as evidence of the problem, querying whether the loss of lives had translated into meaningful progress in the fight against illegal mining. “Look at this water. These six people who are dead, has the water colour changed? What did they die for?” he asked.
The NPP communications director accused the NDC government of failing to demonstrate a significant departure from previous administrations' policies and enforcement methods. He recalled that before the 2024 general election, the NDC presented a roadmap outlining how it intended to tackle illegal mining if elected. Mr Aboagye challenged the government to identify specific measures implemented and explain why the situation had not improved. “These people, before they came to office, gave us a roadmap. It's still in their manifesto and it's still on their campaign videos. They told us, vote for us when we come, these are the things we will do. The barest minimum, which ones have they done?” he asked.
Mr Aboagye argued that the government must be judged not only by announced policies but also by the results those interventions deliver. He said even if some promised measures had been implemented, the administration had a responsibility to explain why they had not produced expected outcomes. “And the ones they have done, if it hasn't given us results, then what is their explanation?” he added. He maintained that the current administration had not introduced any fundamentally different approach to the galamsey crisis since assuming office.
The NPP communications director demanded accountability over the Manso Keniago deaths, insisting that the incident should not be treated as isolated or overshadowed by government communications. He called on authorities to explain the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and account for the effectiveness of their operations. Mr Aboagye questioned the decision to focus on tracking seized excavators while individuals involved in openly conducted illegal mining activities had not faced corresponding enforcement action.
Mr Aboagye criticised what he described as attempts to manage public reaction to the incident through statements and appeals without sufficiently addressing underlying challenges confronting the anti-galamsey campaign. He accused the government of failing to demonstrate a significant departure from previous administrations' policies and enforcement methods. The government had made specific commitments to address the menace and must now demonstrate that those promises are being translated into tangible results.
The situation at Manso Keniago has prompted renewed scrutiny of the government's anti-galamsey operations and methods used to enforce mining regulations. Key concerns include the continued pollution of water bodies and the persistence of illegal mining activities. Three key points have emerged: the government's anti-galamsey strategy has failed to produce environmental improvements; the approach adopted by NAIMOS has been criticised; and the situation has worsened under the current administration.
Key points
- The NPP communications director has challenged the government to account for its campaign promises on tackling illegal mining.
- The approach adopted by NAIMOS has been criticised for focusing on tracking excavators while open and supported illegal mining activities had not been adequately addressed.
- The situation at Manso Keniago has prompted renewed scrutiny of the government's anti-galamsey operations and methods used to enforce mining regulations.
