Political scientist at Kumasi Technical University, Dr. Samuel Afriyie, has asserted that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has a moral duty to hold the government accountable, particularly in the fight against illegal mining, or galamsey.
Speaking on ABC this morning, Dr. Afriyie criticized the government’s handling of the crisis, stating that efforts to tackle galamsey have not been aggressive enough. He called for stronger measures to address the issue.
“Because they [NPP] were not able to handle it, that is why they were voted out. That does not mean they cease to be Ghanaians,” he noted.
“In life, we all learn from mistakes. So they have the right and the responsibility as the minority to put the government on track, and I think that is the right thing to do.”
Dr. Afriyie further argued that completely eliminating galamsey is nearly impossible because those responsible for enforcing the law are often the same people fueling illegal mining. He accused politicians and key stakeholders of being complicit in the crisis, making genuine efforts to end it difficult.
He urged authorities to take decisive action, stressing that without political will, illegal mining would continue to thrive.
