“I believe it is essential to address this critical issue, no matter the political cost.”
President Akufo-Addo has challenged the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Mahama, to clearly state his position on galamsey, the illegal mining issue.
During a Thank You tour in the North East Region on October 15, 2024, the President urged Mahama to be transparent and direct about his stance, emphasizing that Ghanaians need to know where John Mahama stands.
President Akufo-Addo referenced the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, who has publicly committed to signing a pact to depoliticize galamsey and address it on a non-partisan basis and encouraged Mahama to follow suit and support a political pact on galamsey.
This development comes ahead of Ghana’s general elections on December 7, 2024, where galamsey is a key issue. The call for clarity on Mahama’s position reflects the ongoing debate about the best approach to address the complex problem.
President Akufo-Addo revealed that the NPP’s anti-galamsey stance led to electoral losses in mining districts as the NDC’s promise to reverse the policy and free jailed offenders swayed voters.
“My commitment to ending galamsey was a bold move, and I knew it would come with significant political risks. In fact, our stance on illegal mining cost the New Patriotic Party crucial votes in the 2020 elections, particularly in mining districts like Tarkwa, which swung to the National Democratic Congress,” he said.
The President noted that by standing firm against galamsey, he put his presidency on the line, and the outcome was clear. “But I believe it is essential to address this critical issue, no matter the political cost,” he stressed.
Story: Janet Ayethe
