Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has issued a bold declaration that an NDC government under John Dramani Mahama will take a ruthless and uncompromising approach to tackle illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey.”
Speaking on Starr Chat with Bola Ray, Gbande emphasized that the galamsey menace has evolved into a deeply rooted and complex industry involving individuals from across the political divide, as well as professionals including pastors, lawyers, and journalists.
“We are going to ruthlessly deal with galamsey. Let me tell you, we’re going to galamsey not to waste time about it. We have various actors in it. NDC people are involved. NPP people are involved. Pastors are involved. Lawyers are involved. Journalists are involved. It’s a multi-faceted industry,” Gbande stated.
He slammed the current government’s approach to the issue, accusing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of fueling the crisis by issuing over 2,000 mining licenses during its tenure, including permits for forest reserves, with minimal efforts at reclamation.
Gbande also raised alarm over the alleged complicity of law enforcement officials, claiming many police officers in mining communities have become entangled in the illegal mining economy.
“All the police officers there have been incentivized. They are in bed with the galamseyers. They’re galamseyers themselves,” he said, proposing that all police commanders in affected areas be replaced to eliminate entrenched networks of corruption.
To confront the crisis head-on, Gbande outlined several proposed NDC-led interventions:
• Establishment of special courts in Accra for swift prosecution of illegal miners.
• Mandating land reclamation as part of sentencing for convicted galamsey operators.
• A nationwide investigation into illegal mining pits, leveraging documentation from the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• A non-partisan, security-led strategy to address galamsey as a national threat, not just a political talking point.
He also urged the public to give a potential Mahama administration time to fully execute its anti-galamsey measures, noting that changes in national security leadership are still unfolding.
“Galamsey is not fought on the media. It is a deliberate, face-to-face action. When you go to the forest, people are armed. It’s a warfare and we will face it,” Gbande asserted.
The NDC, he concluded, is committed to implementing real solutions to end the cycle of destruction, adding that “when it starts, the same people crying foul now will be the ones affected.”
