At a press conference in Accra, the National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, alleged that the Chairman of the NDC Mining Committee, Dr. Toby Aubynn, is leading the recruitment and training of thugs under the pretext of private security to disrupt the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

However, these allegations have been refuted by Samuel Hadjor, Secretary of the NDC Mining Committee for the 2024 Election, in a press statement.

“On November 12, 2024, the NDC Mining Committee held a public mining conference at Mawuli Hotel in Obuasi. The purpose of this conference was to introduce and discuss the NDC’s mining policy document with miners and stakeholders,” he said in the statement.

He further explained that the meeting was opened to the public due to the importance of the deliberations for the economies of mining communities.

“This conference was widely advertised in the media, with journalists from GHOne TV, JoyNews, TV3, and local media in Obuasi providing coverage,” the statement emphasized.

“The conference took place on the same day Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was campaigning in Obuasi. This was far from a secret meeting, and I urge Ghanaians to treat the NPP’s baseless claims with the contempt they deserve.”

He believes that the NDC’s dominance in the mining areas is causing fear within the ruling party, leading to accusations aimed at disrupting the opposition’s campaign in those regions.

The NDC Mining Committee has launched a strong campaign in mining areas within the Ashanti and Western Regions.

“The NDC’s mining policy document has resonated with miners and injected renewed hope into the small-scale mining sector, making the NPP apprehensive about losing support,” he stated.

“The NDC is poised to win the 2024 elections. As a party committed to peace and stability, we will not engage in any actions that threaten the security of this country. I urge all Ghanaians to disregard the falsehoods being peddled by the NPP and to turn out in large numbers on December 7, 2024, to vote massively for the NDC flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, and all NDC parliamentary candidates,” Samuel Hadjor reiterated.

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Dr. Aubynn emphasized that the NDC is committed to reforming the small-scale mining sector to benefit both the government and local miners.

Speaking to miners in Obuasi in the Ashanti region as part of the party’s campaign in the area, Dr. Aubynn highlighted the NDC’s long-standing commitment to small-scale mining.

He noted that “former President Rawlings took significant steps to regularize small-scale mining to empower locals when foreign interests dominated the sector.”

Dr. Aubynn stressed that the NDC had consistently prioritized the needs of small-scale miners and aims to continue creating an enabling environment for them to operate effectively.

He explained, “Small-scale mining has existed in Ghana for decades, but after independence, it was criminalized for locals. It was in 1989 that former President Jerry John Rawlings changed the laws, allowing local participation in small-scale mining. The NDC has never opposed small-scale mining.”

He clarified, however, that the NDC opposed only irresponsible mining practices that harmed the environment, water bodies, and forest reserves.

“During our campaign in mining areas, we have observed and learned a lot from you, the miners. We recognize that not all mining sites are involved in illegal practices or environmental destruction,” Dr. Aubynn said.

He also noted that the NDC’s Committee on Mining includes industry leaders, mining engineers, and technical safety experts who are prepared to support miners with technical advice, training, and guidance to improve their operations.

Dr. Aubynn appealed to mining site owners across the country to consider halting site operations for two days before the December 7, 2024, elections to allow workers to exercise their voting rights.

The aim of the Obuasi NDC mining conference was to explain the party’s policies and plans for the small-scale mining sector.

The conference, chaired by Dr. Aubynn, was attended by NDC stalwarts, including Mr. Alexander Ackon, former Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Kwasi Ofori Agyemang, former Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Samuel Hadjor, a member of the NDC National Mining Committee, and Mr. Michael Kwadwo Peprah, President of the Ghana Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association.

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