The Presidential Candidate of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Kofi Akpaloo has criticized both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for their failure to effectively tackle illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
According to him, the two leading parties who have governed the country since the return to multiparty democracy, have not shown enough commitment to dealing with the menace.
Speaking during an interview on GHOne TV, Mr. Akpaloo said the efforts deployed by the two major political parties in the country are nothing short of incompetence.
“I don’t believe we will see any real solutions from the NPP or the NDC when it comes to galamsey,” Akpaloo stated.
He also expressed disappointment in the recent remarks by NDC running mate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, claiming that she encouraged illegal mining activities during a visit to Amenfi Central.
“She was telling them to continue with galamsey. This shows that both parties are playing with the minds of the people,” he added.
Galamsey, an illegal form of small-scale mining, has become a significant environmental and social concern in Ghana.
This unlawful activity involves the extraction of gold and other valuable minerals from small plots of land, often carried out without the necessary permits and disregarding environmental regulations. While it offers economic benefits to individuals and local communities, its negative impacts have been devastating—causing widespread environmental degradation, threatening livelihoods, and hindering sustainable development.
These illegal mining activities are prevalent in mineral-rich regions such as Western North, Ashanti, Eastern, Western, and Central regions, among others.
The unregulated use of harmful chemicals like mercury and cyanide during the mining process has led to the contamination of water bodies and soil, resulting in severe pollution. Rivers and streams, such as the Ankobrah and Prah, have been rendered undrinkable, and local agriculture and fishing industries have been disrupted, posing a grave threat to the health and livelihoods of nearby communities.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Agnes Gyamfuaa Ofosu
