Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Communications Director of the 2024 Bawumia campaign, has taken aim at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over its approach to addressing illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, in Ghana.
Speaking in a recent interview, Aboagye stated that he often feels tempted to mock the current government’s struggles with galamsey, given how the NDC dismissed the complexities of the issue while in opposition.
“Sometimes, when I wake up and see how this government is struggling with the galamsey crisis, I feel like just laughing. We warned them, and they knew what we were saying was true,” he said.
Aboagye accused the NDC, particularly during the 2024 election campaign, of making promises that encouraged illegal miners, despite prior warnings. According to him, senior figures within the NDC, including then-presidential candidate John Mahama, made comments suggesting that illegal miners would be protected or released under an NDC government.
“We cautioned them that it was wrong for a presidential candidate to stand on a campaign platform and promise to release illegal miners arrested for operating in pits. That’s exactly what Mahama said during the 2024 campaign,” Aboagye alleged.
He argued that the politicisation of illegal mining continues to hinder efforts to eliminate the practice. In his view, the government’s ability to combat galamsey effectively depends on taking non-partisan actions and removing political incentives that fuel the problem.
“Until we depoliticise the galamsey issue, no matter what systems or structures we put in place, the problem will persist,” he emphasized.
Aboagye’s comments highlight the ongoing debate over the role of political parties in Ghana’s fight against environmental degradation and illegal mining activities, as the country continues to grapple with the devastating impact of galamsey on its land, water bodies, and communities.
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