The Vice Presidential Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has called on former President John Dramani Mahama to cease using the issue of illegal mining, or "galamsey," for political gain.

Dr. Opoku Prempeh criticized Mahama for his inconsistent stance on the issue, suggesting that the former president's actions and statements indicate a self-serving approach rather than a genuine commitment to addressing the problem.

“These plain inconsistencies by John Mahama on the subject matter of galamsey for me makes it difficult to trust John Mahama on the subject. Rather, they are thwarting the NPP government’s efforts at fighting the canker”, NPP Running Mate said.

Speaking as the Guest of Honour at the 13th Biennial Conference and 40th Anniversary of the Association of Methodist Men’s Fellowships at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology on September 14, 2024, Dr. Opoku Prempeh expressed skepticism about Mahama’s dedication to combating illegal mining.

He recalled incidents from 2020 when high-ranking NDC members were recorded encouraging illegal miners, which, according to Dr. Opoku Prempeh, led to the NPP losing seats in mining communities.

This, he said, was due to the perception that the NDC was supportive of illegal mining while the NPP was seen as opposed to it.

Dr. Prempeh also highlighted Mahama's contradictory promises regarding galamsey. Initially, Mahama criticized the imprisonment of miners under the Akufo-Addo administration and pledged amnesty if elected.

However, he later reversed his position, vowing to prosecute illegal miners if he were to win the 2025 election.

Dr. Prempeh urged Mahama to prioritize national interests over petty politics, emphasizing the NPP’s dedication to managing Ghana’s mineral resources responsibly. He outlined the NPP's plans under Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, including formalizing and regulating small-scale mining, establishing a Minerals Development Bank, and creating a pension scheme for small-scale miners.

He concluded by calling on the clergy to denounce politicians who exploit national issues for personal gain and challenged the NDC to demonstrate genuine commitment to combating illegal mining by signing a binding national document with the NPP. This agreement would hold all parties accountable for promoting responsible mining practices and protecting Ghana’s natural resources.