Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Senior Campaign Adviser to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, has condemned attempts to place sole blame for the ongoing illegal mining crisis, commonly referred to as galamsey, on Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
In response to criticisms suggesting that Dr. Bawumia, as part of the current government, has failed to address the issue, Agyepong defended him during an interview on Channel One TV’s The Point of View. He asserted that Dr. Bawumia has developed a comprehensive plan to tackle the galamsey menace and is committed to resolving the problem.
Agyepong challenged the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to present their own detailed strategy for combating illegal mining, especially given the increasing environmental destruction caused by galamsey.
He emphasized the need for a unified national effort that transcends partisan politics, noting that real progress cannot be achieved if the issue remains politicized.
“Dr. Bawumia has made it clear that we need to revive and resource the Ghana Geological Department, and mining in rivers should be off-limits. He has laid out a clear plan to address the problem.
Let the opposition also present their intentions. With just two months to the elections, this issue has persisted for a long time, and all of us have been complacent.
“Now, because it serves some political interests, there is a push to politicize this matter. It is unfair to hold Dr. Bawumia solely accountable. He has provided a clear way forward.
Let’s be honest; you can’t resolve this issue in just two months. Bawumia has done what any responsible politician should do by presenting a plan,” he stated during the interview with host Bernard Avle.
Agyepong urged Ghanaians to avoid politicizing the galamsey issue, stressing that its resolution requires a collective effort and cannot be accomplished quickly, especially with a critical election approaching.
“It’s easy to make the government a scapegoat, but we should not over-politicize this serious matter, which should have engaged our attention long ago. Some of us have sounded the alarm on this issue.”
In response to increasing pressure, the government recently announced plans to revoke the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462) when Parliament reconvenes.
This decision follows widespread criticism from various stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs) and environmental groups, who argue that L.I. 2462 permits unrestricted mining in Ghana’s forest reserves, posing significant environmental risks.
