Environment and Social Development Analyst, Paa Kwesi Eduaful Abaidoo, has slammed President John Mahama for what he describes as a belated awakening to the urgency of Ghana’s illegal mining crisis.
Speaking on ABC News GH on Wednesday, Abaidoo said, “It is unfortunate that the president is now talking about its urgency, because we have been talking about this long ago.”
While he welcomed Mahama’s declaration of illegal mining as a national emergency, he called for immediate, decisive action beyond words.
His comments come a day after President Mahama, during his ‘Thank You Tour’ in the Western North Region, officially declared the environmental devastation caused by galamsey a national emergency.
The president lamented the degradation in Awaso, Dadieso, and Sefwi Anhwiaso, where water bodies and forest reserves have been severely affected.
He also condemned illegal task forces reportedly extorting money from licensed small-scale miners. But to Abaidoo, the urgency should have been addressed long before it reached this crisis point.
“Declaring an emergency is fine,” Abaidoo said, “but we need the president and his team to take action. We need commitment in fighting galamsey, not just press statements.”
He praised ongoing investigations into the involvement of top NDC officials in illegal mining but emphasized that the Attorney-General and EOCO must move beyond investigation to arrest and prosecution if wrongdoing is proven.
“No one should be shielded—whether they are in the ruling party or not,” he added.
The Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has already directed EOCO to investigate the NDC’s National Organiser, Joseph Yamin, and National Vice Chairman, Yakubu Abanga, for alleged roles in galamsey.
Abaidoo urged that the process must not become another “political gimmick,” but rather the start of real accountability.
