Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah has raised concerns over President Mahama’s lack of emphasis on illegal mining (galamsey) during his State of the Nation Address.
The former government spokesperson, speaking on Prime News on ABC News GH, said he expected the President to be more detailed about the government’s approach to tackling the menace, which continues to devastate Ghana’s environment and water bodies.
“We did not hear much about illegal mining,” Palgrave noted, questioning why such a crucial issue was not given the prominence it deserved.
He stressed that the NPP government had taken significant steps in addressing galamsey, including deploying military forces and revoking licenses of non-compliant miners.
He expressed disappointment that Mahama’s address failed to provide clear policies on how his administration intends to permanently resolve the crisis.
Palgrave urged the government to treat galamsey as a national emergency and not a political issue, warning that Ghana’s natural resources remain at risk if decisive action is not taken.