President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has acknowledged the significant effects that the battle against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, has had on both his presidency and his political party.
During his final State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Friday, January 3, 2025, the President shared that the fight against galamsey led to losses for his party in the 2020 parliamentary elections, which influenced the formation of the eighth Parliament.
He noted that these political shifts affected the implementation of his policy agenda and had a lasting impact on his second term.
Despite these challenges, President Akufo-Addo expressed optimism about the growing support for the government’s anti-galamsey initiatives, particularly as the 2024 elections approach. He reiterated the importance of ongoing efforts to tackle illegal mining and protect the nation’s environmental resources.
“I welcome the many loud converts to the fight against Galamsey that suddenly appeared in the run up to the 2024 elections and I pray that more and more of us get to embrace the need for the protection of our lands and waterbodies,” he remarked.
He emphasised the importance of responsible mineral extraction for the benefit of future generations.
“We owe it to future generations of Ghanaians to extract our minerals in a manner that protects our lands and waterbodies,” President Akufo-Addo urged.
