The Convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, Dr. Ken Ashigbey, has called on President John Mahama to throw his full support behind the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, in the ongoing fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Dr. Ashigbey said the Lands Minister’s efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities are being frustrated by certain individuals within the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He stressed that the President must take decisive action by identifying and dealing with those undermining the government’s anti-galamsey agenda.
“The Lands Minister is doing commendable work, but his efforts are being frustrated by some people within the NDC. It is important for President Mahama to support him and fish out those standing in the way of progress,” he said.
Dr. Ashigbey also paid tribute to the late Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, describing him as one of the few within government who boldly supported the Lands Minister’s interventions.
“Unfortunately, we lost Dr. Omane Boamah, who was one of the ministers standing firmly behind the Lands Minister in this fight. His loss is a big blow, and the President must look within his government and ensure the right people are backing this cause,” he added.
Dr. Omane Boamah, who died in a tragic helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, had been vocal about the environmental and public health dangers of illegal mining.
Before his death, he had advocated for a coordinated national response and stricter enforcement to protect Ghana’s water bodies and farmlands from the destructive impact of galamsey.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ashigbey further urged the government to prioritise resource allocation for the fight, emphasising that logistics, monitoring, and security presence were critical to sustaining progress.
“One of the key things the Lands Minister said, and I fully agree, is the need for permanent deployment of the military and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Squad (NAIMOS). Without consistent presence and resourcing, we risk losing the gains made so far,” he cautioned.
Dr. Ashigbey reiterated that the success of the anti-galamsey campaign depends on political will, accountability, and collective national effort.
Source: Gertrude Otchere
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