Put me in charge of the fight against galamsey

Illegal miners [L] and PNP Leader, Janet Nabla

The presidential candidate of the People’s National Party (PNP) for the 2024 election, Janet Nabla, has challenged President John Mahama to put her in charge of the fight against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey if he wants to win the fight against the menace.

Speaking in an interview with Rainbow Radio, monitored by GhanaWeb, the firebrand politician said the only thing she will need is for the president to make the security agencies available to her.

“If President Mahama wants to stop galamsey, I dare him to put me in charge of the fight against illegal mining. I am telling President Mahama that I avail myself. He should not pay me a dime but should allow me full control of all necessary security apparatus, and then we will see what happens. The NDC government is not fighting galamsey. When I am put in charge of the fight against galamsey, I will do what the Mahama government is not ready to do,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Convenor for the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has urged the government to declare a state of national emergency to address the surge in illegal mining activities in the country, popularly known as galamsey.

Speaking during an interview on Joy News, monitored by GhanaWeb on Monday, March 31, 2025, he stressed the need for the government to take decisive action against illegal mining, including the declaration of a state of emergency to safeguard the environment.

“So, for all of these forest reserves, you need to declare a state of emergency. A lot of our water bodies have been diverted or blocked, and there are going to be major landslides, mudslides, and flooding in some of these communities because of the way we have treated the water bodies.

“When the rains start coming in, the lives of Ghanaians will be at stake. I believe that a state of emergency will give the President special powers to work together with the Attorney General and the Chief Justice to set up specialized fast-track courts. The NDC talks about a 24-hour economy; these courts should be running 24 hours,” he stated.

KA

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