The Vice -Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has urged political parties, particularly the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), to demonstrate their dedication to fighting illegal mining (galamsey) by committing to a binding national anti-galamsey pact.

Addressing the 13th Biennial Delegates Conference of the Association of Methodist Men’s Fellowship at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Saturday, 14 September 2024, Dr. Prempeh, affectionately known as Napo, appealed to religious leaders, particularly the church, to lead efforts to unite stakeholders in drafting the pact.

"The fight against galamsey is critical to preserving our environment and future generations. Water is life, and we must raise our voices. No one should be allowed to mine irresponsibly or illegally. Under no circumstances should anyone be permitted to mine in our river bodies.

“We are not a lawless country where people can claim land due to their strength and prospect for gold anywhere they please. Everyone must abide by the laws of the country," Dr. Prempeh stated.

He stressed the importance of the anti-galamsey pact in outlining a comprehensive strategy to tackle illegal mining, a major environmental issue in Ghana. With national elections approaching in December, he called on political parties to prove their commitment by signing the pact, built on national consensus.

Dr. Prempeh assured the audience that the NPP has no hesitation in signing the pact, reaffirming the party’s dedication to ending galamsey.

"The NPP remains fully committed to the fight against illegal mining, despite the challenges we’ve faced. Our 2024 manifesto contains a detailed plan to promote responsible, Ghanaian-owned small-scale mining, creating jobs and wealth while protecting the environment."

He also criticised the NDC, led by John Dramani Mahama, for not clearly presenting their strategy for addressing galamsey.

"I challenge the NDC to outline their approach to dealing with galamsey. Ghanaians deserve to see what they intend to do, and they should commit to signing the proposed national anti-galamsey pact," Dr. Prempeh urged.

The NPP vice-presidential candidate took a swipe at Mr. Mahama's previous comments, describing them as politically irresponsible.

"If for political reasons you go and promise, like President Mahama did, to grant amnesty for illegal mining, how irresponsible is that?"

Dr. Prempeh further highlighted the NPP’s achievements in education, job creation, and infrastructure, stressing that the party deserves another term to continue its progress.

 "We’ve brought Free SHS, kept the lights on for eight years, created 2.3 million jobs, promoted vocational and technical training, supported NHIS, and are building 111 hospitals across the country. We deserve to continue the work we’ve started—not to build mortuaries in Zongo but to provide health and development for all," he added.