Running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known as NAPO, has rejected suggestions advocating the use of deadly force against individuals involved in illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.

In a viral video from a campaign event, NAPO criticizes the opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for what he describes as hypocrisy regarding their position on galamsey.

He claims the NDC, in its quest for power, is pushing for a shoot-to-kill policy to combat illegal mining—an approach he deems inappropriate. NAPO clarified that no one will be shot, and a more suitable method of mining will be pursued.

“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.