President Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been criticized for his failure to effectively address illegal mining, commonly referred to as “galamsey,” resulting in environmental degradation in Ghana. Critics argue that he has shown irresponsibility in protecting the country’s river bodies and forest reserves.
Ebenezer Okletery Larbi, Member of Parliament for Lower Manya, expressed these sentiments during the Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra. He suggested that if President Akufo-Addo feels he has failed, he should consider stepping aside and allowing a more competent leader to tackle the environmental crisis.
Larbi emphasised that as commander-in-chief, President Akufo-Addo has the military, police, and state institutions at his disposal and should not shy away from his responsibilities in combating galamsey. He criticized the president’s call for former President John Dramani Mahama to clarify his stance on illegal mining, deeming it an indication of leadership failure and political maneuvering.
In a related development, President Akufo-Addo defended his commitment to combating galamsey, claiming he has taken significant political risks since pledging to address the issue in 2017. He acknowledged facing harsh criticism but reaffirmed his determination to eradicate illegal mining, stating he is prepared to face any consequences.
The president expressed concern about the NPP’s poor performance in mining regions during the 2020 elections, attributing this to propaganda by Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He noted that the NPP struggled particularly in mining districts, including the Western Region.
“In the last election, the NPP performed poorly in mining districts largely because the NDC claimed my policy to stop galamsey would be reversed if Mahama returned to power,” he explained. “I meant it when I said I was putting my presidency on the line to confront this issue.”
Akufo-Addo challenged Mahama to clarify his position on galamsey, questioning his sincerity. “Today, he claims he is against galamsey and will enforce the law. We must ask, Mr. Mahama, where do you truly stand? Your statements seem contradictory.”
Story by: Alexander Kukah
