Former Director of Communications for the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Communications Team, George Ayisi, says the National Democratic Congress made people think they were going to allow galamsey when they came into power.
According to him, the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, will be a Herculean task for both the government and the people.
George Ayisi, speaking on Joy News on November 3 and monitored by NewsDesksGh, was reacting to the recent Hwidiem riot, which saw angry residents of Hwidiem and surrounding communities in the Ahafo Region attacking military officers involved in an anti-illegal mining operation.
“Some of the people think it’s their own resource and they’re entitled to it,”
“It’s also about the posturing especially of the current govt.”
Explaining what he meant by posturing, he said the NDC administration had created the impression that they would be more welcoming of illegal mining.
“The current government is having a challenge because they made the people believe when they come they were gonna allow them to mine,” he stated.
He referenced videos showing former Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC Kwaku Boahen and Dr. Tony Obeng visiting mining communities and allegedly encouraging miners to continue their operations in the lead-up to the 2024 general elections.
According to Mr. Ayisi, those actions and messages were interpreted by some as an endorsement of illegal mining.
“Some of these things sent the wrong signals to the people that if the NDC were to come into power they were going to allow them to do mining. Whether illegal or whatever,” he said.
He insisted that this perception has emboldened some illegal miners to act with impunity.
“Now they’re in power, that’s why some have the audacity and impunity to go all out, to do mining openly,” he added.
He emphasized that the fight against galamsey will not be easy, and urged the government and leaders to be more committed to it.
