Running mate to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2024 election, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has pledged that an NDC government would focus on educating those engaged in illegal mining (galamsey) on how to carry out their activities without polluting water bodies.

Speaking at an NDC event in Amenfi Central in the Western North Region last Saturday, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang criticized the current government for failing to create sufficient employment opportunities for the youth, which, she argued, has driven many young people in rural areas to turn to galamsey as their only means of survival.

“In Amenfi and other towns like it, galamsey is rampant, causing serious harm to the environment. But what choice do the youth have when there are no jobs? They are forced to turn to illegal mining as their only option for survival,” she remarked.

Acknowledging the prevalence of galamsey in the area, she asked the crowd, “We know galamsey is happening here in Amenfi. Where are the galamseyers?” The audience responded enthusiastically.

“It’s not today we discovered gold in Ghana, and galamsey has been around for a long time. But if the government destroys the few jobs in town and doesn’t create new ones, what are the youth supposed to do?” she continued.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang emphasized that her visit was meant to bring “good news” and offer hope through practical solutions. She stressed the importance of responsible mining practices, stating that where galamsey is practised without harming water bodies, the NDC intends to train the youth on sustainable mining techniques that protect their health, the environment, and their future.

“The youth need jobs, and if galamsey is what they will continue to do, then they should be taught how to do it safely and without destroying their communities. We have come here with good intentions, to show a better way,” she added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore and Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, has made it clear that the government has no plans to ban galamsey.

“We won’t ban galamsey today or tomorrow,” Dr. Afriyie declared. He warned that banning the practice would be politically risky for the NPP, as many people in mining communities rely on it for their livelihoods. He also blamed the worsening environmental damage on foreign nationals involved in illegal mining, accusing the opposition NDC of bringing them into the country to further their political agenda.

“The NDC saw that we [NPP] were winning the seats in the mining areas, so they decided to go and import foreigners to engage in illegal mining on our water bodies. The whole water bodies have not been a problem until now, it just started one month ago. It is someone behind that to force the NPP government to stop galamsey so that we will lose the seats. We won’t stop them [galamseyers] today or tomorrow,” he stated.

Dr. Afriyie also criticized what he described as hypocritical media coverage, adding, “Is galamsey done in Accra? They should come to Kumasi to demonstrate against galamsey; like they will see."

In the midst of these opposing viewpoints, some civil society groups have called on the leaders of the two main political parties to take a clear stance against illegal mining, urging them to prove their commitment to addressing the issue should they win the upcoming election.