Legal Counsel to former President Akufo-Addo, Kow Abaka Essuman, has asserted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) performed better in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, than the current administration.
Speaking on Starr Chat with Bola Ray on Starr 103.5 FM on Thursday, October 9, 2025, Mr. Essuman emphasized that galamsey should be treated as a national concern rather than a political issue, highlighting the decisive measures taken under former President Akufo-Addo’s leadership.
“Galamsey is one of the things that, when we were in government, there were a lot of calls for us to take action. In fact, if you remember, [Former] President Akufo-Addo, when he came into power, said he was putting his presidency on the line – and indeed he did. Because in 2020, after he took certain actions, it cost him,” he said.
Mr. Essuman added that the government at the time faced immense pressure but remained resolute in its stance, stressing that the issue required national cooperation, not partisan attacks.
“It is something we have to deal with as a country. We cannot play politics with it. We kept saying when we were in government that galamsey is not an issue to play politics with, so I am not surprised that the current government is facing the kind of pressure it’s facing. We need to treat it as a national matter. So far, at this particular point in time, the NPP did better in fighting galamsey,” he stated.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Barbara Yeboah
