President Akufo-Addo Criticizes Mahama’s Stance on Galamsey, Calls for Clarity

On Tuesday, October 15, during his North East Region thank-you tour, President Akufo-Addo has challenged former President John Mahama to clarify his true stance on illegal mining, also known as galamsey.  

Akufo-Addo claims that Mahama sent mixed messages during the 2020 elections. According to him, after the government took steps to fight against galamsey, Mahama toured the mining districts and promised to pardon anyone who had been affected by the crackdown.

He went around all the mining districts of Ghana and said that when he comes, he will give amnesty to those impacted by the government’s fight against galamsey. One side of his mouth is saying one thing, and the other side is saying something else. That’s not good for us, Akufo-Addo said.

Read Also: Whatever the Outcomes of Galamsey, Get Ready to Pay the Price

Akufo-Addo also explained the risks he took when tackling illegal mining, a major issue in Ghana. "When I said I was putting my presidency on the line, I meant it. I was ready to take the political risk of dealing with galamsey," he said.

The President believes that his tough decisions on galamsey played a role in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) losing support in the mining districts, especially in the Western Region. “We lost many areas, even nearly Tarkwa, because of the actions we took against galamsey," he said.

Now, Akufo-Addo is urging Mahama to come forward and clearly state his position on illegal mining, so the public knows where he truly stands.