Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders Chair for South Africa, has revealed that illegal mining, popularly called galamsey, has no place in President John Dramani Mahama’s government.
He said the eradication of the menace is dear to the President’s heart.
In an interview on Class 91.3FM on Friday, 7th February, 2025, Mr. Quashie intimated that law enforcement agencies are gradually driving out illegal miners from forest reserves and water bodies.
“We’ve directed law enforcement agencies to gradually get rid of illegal miners. The process started as soon as we won the elections. Adding to the menace is so devastating, and fighting it is of topmost priority to the President,” he stated.
Regarding the effects of galamsey, the SA Council Chair stated, “When we destroy our environment – if we destroy our water bodies, if we destroy our forest reserves – it affects future generations.”
According to him, no reasonable leader would be unconcerned about future generations. He opined that a good leader prepares the ground for future generations to benefit from, even though they were not part of the building process. “This is what President Mahama seeks to achieve,” stressed Mr. Quashie.
He stressed that the galamsey fight has been fraught with politics, hampering progress in dealing with the menace. Mr. Quashie pointed out that judging from the directives issued by the new Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, it was not going to be business as usual.
“It does not matter who you are or what you do for the country or the NDC; once you are involved in galamsey, the party must come at you with its full force,” stressed Mr. Quashie.
The SA Council Chair expressed worry about rumours of party people taking over the galamsey activities, expressing his amazement and cautioning such individuals to desist from such acts.
“I get surprised when I hear people say party people have taken over the galamsey business. It wouldn’t happen, not under President Mahama, not under anybody. We campaigned on curtailing illegal mining and rather rationalizing it, and we cannot sit aloof for it to persist,” he ended.
To succeed, he suggested that party members engaging in the menace must be dismissed from the party. “Anybody who has business to do with galamsey or the galamsey industry must not be tolerated by the NDC going forward,” he warns.
In assuring Ghanaians of the government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining, he held the view that with the directives the president has given to the sector ministers, the Regional Coordinating Councils, as well as other stakeholders who matter, the fight on galamsey will yield good results.
