Director of Communications of NPP, Richard Ahiagbah
The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has accused President John Dramani Mahama of being soft on galamsey, asserting that the issue has worsened under his leadership due to political compromises.
He further alleged that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) actively sought support from illegal miners during the 2020 Election campaign, making it difficult for Mahama to take decisive actions against galamsey now.
Speaking on the Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on April 2, 2025, Ahiagbah said, “President Mahama is very soft on galamsey, and it has worsened under him because he is compromised by many of the things he said on the campaign platform. They actively campaigned for galamsey votes in 2020.”
According to him, Mahama’s current position makes him unable to implement any aggressive short-term measures to tackle the galamsey menace.
“So, where he is now? He cannot do anything, at least in the short term, to aggressively attack these galamsey people,” he stated.
Ahiagbah further emphasised that strong statements are insufficient to combat the problem, highlighting the lack of practical mechanisms to address the issue effectively.
He also lamented how illegal mining continues to pose a severe threat to the country’s environment and overall existence.
“In my assessment, strong statements are one thing, but the mechanisms on the ground to deal with these matters are not there. Galamsey is worse today, and we are threatening our existence with this galamsey issue,” he stated.
While acknowledging that illegal mining has been a long-standing issue, Ahiagbah called for non-partisan approach in addressing it.
“Granted, galamsey didn’t start today, and we need to fight it. At that level, I say let’s deal with the issue outside of politics because they interlace,” he said.
He further alleged that the NDC has had a vested interest in the activity, which prevents them from taking immediate action.
“The idea that galamsey is getting worse is because the NDC had a tacit benefit from the galamseyers, and they cannot do anything immediately to deal with them,” he claimed.
RAD/AE
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