A staunch member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Chief Executive Officer of Marrer Ghana Limited, Susatgad Boat Building and Fishing Industry, Mr. Novihoho Afaglo, has criticized the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia-led government, accusing them of losing the moral authority to combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, in Ghana.

Mr. Afaglo alleged that President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, now the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, and key NPP executives are all beneficiaries of galamsey activities.

He claimed that their involvement makes the government’s fight against illegal mining ineffective, likening it to “pouring water on a stone.”

According to Mr. Afaglo, despite President Akufo-Addo’s bold declaration in 2017 that he was putting his presidency on the line to end galamsey, efforts have failed due to the leadership’s own entanglement in the illegal mining trade.

He noted that this perceived hypocrisy contributed to the NPP losing four key Parliamentary seats in the 2020 elections.

The affected constituencies—Evalue Ajomoro Gwira, Upper West Denkyira, Amenfi Central, and Prestea Huni Valley—were once considered NPP strongholds but shifted in the aftermath of the mining ban.

He explained that the government’s crackdown on galamsey, through initiatives such as Operation Vanguard, a military-police task force set up to tackle illegal mining, sparked widespread resentment in mining communities that relied heavily on small-scale mining for their livelihoods.

The economic impact of the ban, Mr. Afaglo argued in an interview, fueled resistance and discontent, ultimately costing the NPP support in these areas.

Critics of the government’s approach, including Lawyer Appiah DanKwa, have also highlighted its failure to make meaningful progress in the fight against galamsey, further undermining public confidence in the government’s commitment to tackling the issue.

Mr. Afaglo emphasized that the economic hardships caused by the ban on small-scale mining have created bitterness in mining communities, who view the NPP's stance on galamsey as hypocritical.

He suggested that, with the 2024 elections approaching, the NPP is unlikely to take a strong stance against illegal mining to avoid a repeat of the losses seen in 2020.

“I have written to the presidency several times, offering advice on how to educate small-scale miners, but no one has shown interest,” Mr. Afaglo stated, lamenting the lack of a comprehensive and collaborative approach to the issue.

He concluded that the NPP government’s inability to effectively address galamsey highlights the complexity of the problem and underscores the need for a more nuanced and inclusive strategy to combat illegal mining.