Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has accused the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration of hastily approving a significant number of licenses despite widespread opposition to illegal mining, or galamsey.

In a Facebook post on September 12, Ablakwa revealed that on September 4, 2024, alone, 12 small-scale mining licenses were hurriedly granted ministerial approval. He criticized the swift issuance of these licenses, especially considering the ongoing environmental devastation caused by galamsey across the country.

"Considering the overwhelming national outrage against galamsey due to the atrocious levels of devastation to our river bodies, forests, the entire environment, and to our very survival, one would have expected a responsible government to at least halt the issuance of licenses," Ablakwa said.

The North Tongu MP further disclosed that, between August and September 2024, a total of 38 small-scale mining licenses had been approved, which he noted is more than half of the total licenses issued from January to July of the same year. He expressed alarm at the government's continued authorization of mining operations despite mounting evidence of environmental degradation.

"In 2024 alone, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has so far issued an extremely disturbing number of 70 small-scale licenses. It is therefore not surprising that the galamsey menace is worsening each day," he remarked.

Ablakwa argued that the damage caused by licensed small-scale miners is almost indistinguishable from that caused by unlicensed miners, as noted by environmental activists. He stressed that the government's actions are exacerbating the environmental crisis, and called for strict accountability.

"President Akufo-Addo must be impeached for not only failing to keep his promise to stop galamsey but for his complicity in authorizing the highest number of mining licenses to reckless elements engaged in destructive and murderous mining," Ablakwa declared, labeling the President's actions as dangerous.

Supporting Ablakwa's claims, investigative outlet The Fourth Estate highlighted that between 2022 and 2023, ten mining companies received permits to operate in Ghana's forest reserves. This figure contrasts sharply with the five companies that obtained similar permits between 1992 and 2016.

"For 24 years (1992 to 2016), 5 companies got permits to mine in Ghana's forest reserves. But in just a year (2022 to 2023) 10 companies got permits to enter Ghana's forest reserves," The Fourth Estate posted on X (formerly Twitter).