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Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, has strongly criticized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration’s efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey.’
Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who in 2017 pledged to tackle galamsey and declared he was willing to risk his presidency to end the menace, faced widespread criticism for failing to deliver on his promise.
Speaking before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on January 27, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah acknowledged that the NPP government had initially shown commitment by instituting a ban on mining activities, which lasted six months and was later extended to nine months. However, he described their overall fight as a “failure.”
“It’s true the NPP administration started very well, there was a ban on mining places… But at the end of the eight years, the outcome is what we all know—degraded lands, polluted water bodies, and wanton destruction of forest reserves. These are clearly facts that indicate that the fight was a failure,” he stated.
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah condemned the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, especially its impact on water bodies, labeling such activities “unacceptable.” He pledged to take decisive action to address the issue and implement sustainable solutions to protect Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
