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A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team, Hamza Suhuyini Sayibu, has dismissed media reports suggesting that President John Dramani Mahama promised to end illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, within his first 120 days in office.
Speaking in an interview on TV3’s New Day on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Suhuyini stated that such claims were being wrongly attributed to the President. He emphasized that the fight against galamsey requires a comprehensive and sustainable approach rather than a rushed solution.
“We never made a promise that we were going to end galamsey in a matter of weeks or three months. We never said so,” Suhuyini insisted.
He clarified that President Mahama’s 120-day social contract with Ghanaians does not include any promise to eradicate illegal mining within months. Instead, Mahama has consistently advocated for a well-structured and long-term strategy to address the menace, just as his administration tackled the power crisis (dumsor) during his previous tenure.
“In every step of the way, President Mahama made his stance clear against galamsey and indicated that just like we confronted the issue of dumsor under him, we needed a sustainable and holistic approach if we were truly committed to resolving illegal mining,” he explained.
Suhuyini further stated that the complexity of the galamsey crisis made it impractical to set an unrealistic deadline for its eradication. “We knew that the fight is tedious and that for us to succeed, there was a need to put in place measures that could be sustained. That is why we did not make such a promise,” he added.
The discussion comes at a time when illegal mining continues to pose serious environmental and safety concerns in Ghana. On March 31, 2025, the Western Central Regional Police Command arrested eleven individuals, including four Chinese nationals, for engaging in illegal mining activities along the Bonsa River.
Additionally, on April 1, 2025, five illegal miners were confirmed dead after a mining pit collapsed at an illegal site in Mpasatia, Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region. Several others remain trapped, raising fresh concerns about the effectiveness of government measures to combat illegal mining.
In response to the ongoing crisis, President Mahama has launched The Tree for Life initiative, aimed at raising awareness about environmental protection, restoring lands and rivers degraded by galamsey activities, and instilling environmental consciousness among the youth.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has introduced the Blue Water River Guard training program, which will equip 2,000 young Ghanaians with skills to safeguard the country’s river bodies. The first phase of the project will train 400 individuals under the Ghana Navy Riverine Command, in collaboration with the Minerals Commission, to help combat illegal mining operations on water bodies.
With illegal mining continuing to claim lives and destroy natural resources, stakeholders are urging the government to take firmer actions to regulate the industry and ensure the safety of both miners and the environment.
