The National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, says illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, has worsened since President John Dramani Mahama returned to power in January 2025.
According to him, the failure of the current administration to take decisive action, including repealing Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2462 and declaring a state of emergency, is worsening the environmental crisis.
In a social media post on Friday, June 20, Mr. Ahiagbah attributed the current situation to what he described as the campaign message of President Mahama during the 2020 and 2024 general elections.
“Ghana’s forests and water bodies have worsened since President Mahama assumed power,” he wrote. “I am surprised that President Mahama has refused to heed the loud call from all stakeholders to declare a state of emergency and repeal L.I 2462.”
He added, “Perhaps we should not be surprised, given the NDC messaging in the 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns. President Mahama must act to save our forests and water bodies.”
Meanwhile, Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has also claimed that galamsey has effectively become a legitimate activity under the John Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
Mr. Bentil made the assertion in a social media post on Thursday, June 19, in reaction to developments surrounding L.I 2462 — the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022.
The law has come under criticism from environmentalists and civil society organisations since its passage.
“L.I. 2462. What did I tell you? It won’t be repealed. Galamsey is now de facto legal,” he wrote.
