The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, known as NAPO and has rejected the idea of using lethal force against individuals engaged in illegal mining (galamsey).

In a recent viral video from a campaign event, NAPO criticized the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for what he perceives as hypocritical stances on galamsey.

He claims that the NDC’s advocacy for a shoot-to-kill policy reflects a desperate grab for power rather than a practical solution.

NAPO asserts that such extreme measures are unacceptable and vows to pursue more appropriate and lawful methods to address illegal mining.

“The time they wanted vote, they said when they come, they would leave the galamseyers alone. But now they want to tell NPP people that we should shoot and kill galamseyers.

“Tell NDC that, no way. We won’t shoot them today or tomorrow. The truth is that God, who created the world, placed the gold under the ground, and it is the job of the government to establish community mining schemes for everybody to work peacefully.

“What we don’t like is for someone to mine on the water bodies because if we don’t get water to drink, we will die as a nation,” NAPO is heard saying in the viral video.

"Now that the NDC wants to win power, that they are telling the NPP to shoot to k!ll galamseyers? We will not shoot anyone, neither today nor tomorrow." - Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), running mate of the NPP, addresses issues of galamsey in Bogoso.The pause and look at the… pic.twitter.com/fiJTKifDJe— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) September 9, 2024