The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (Goldbod), has criticized the former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s approach towards ending the illegal mining menace in the country.
According to Sammy Gyamfi, Akufo-Addo rather encouraged illegal mining or ‘galamsey’.
Speaking on the topic on Joy Fm today, September 19, he said the former president did not possess the will to fight galamsey.
“President Akufo-Addo lacked the political will and commitment to end the galamsey menace,” he said.
Sammy Gyamfi also claimed that Akufo-Addo promoted the menace which has been affecting the country for years
“He actually promoted it. He made it a free for all venture for his party appointees who decimated our forest reserves and water bodies.”
He defended the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) stance against the former ruling New Patriotic Party.
“I have no regrets for tre stance some of us took in opposition against his government,” he stated.
He praised the steps that the President Mahama led government is taking in the fight against galamsey.
“I’m proud, because significant strides are being made,” he said.
The GoldBod CEO called for a more comprehensive public conversation around galamsey that reflects current realities.
“That is my worry about the ongoing conversation about galamsey. A very important conversation but we are not giving it that holistic full picture,” he noted.
He further explained, “The country that was handed to us in 7th January 2025 was a country that was not fighting galamsey at all.”
He then alleged that under the former administration, people who tried to combat illegal mining were criminalized.
“As a matter of fact what was happening was that fighters of galamsey were being fough, arrested, prosecuted and jailed,” he said, adding, “I don’t think that should be lost on us.”
He also said that there was not even a single operation against galamsey in 2024.
“Because the government of the day said it had lost in mining areas in the previous elections because this fight against galamsey. Whic was not true. They lost because of their fraudulent fight against galamsey,” he stressed.
