Presidential Spokesperson and Member of Parliament for Abura Asebu Kwamankese, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has fiercely defended President Mahama’s integrity in the fight against illegal mining, stating that the President has no personal or political interest in either legal or illegal mining operations.
Addressing public concerns about government’s approach to the galamsey crisis, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said President Mahama has shown unmatched commitment to ending illegal mining, especially compared to what he described as the “complicity” of the previous administration.
“Since he became President, he has done everything that has to be done in order to ensure that we beat back on galamsey. What we are dealing with is the lure of gold, which has drawn thousands of Ghanaian youth into illegal mining,” he posited.
He noted that illegal mining is not a recent phenomenon. For years, young Ghanaians have been driven to the activity due to limited economic opportunities.
“In the past, it used to be artisanal. People would dig with hoes and spades and sell whatever little they could find just to survive. That was born out of economic hardship and a lack of job opportunities,” he explained.
However, according to the MP, the nature of galamsey changed over time. Wealthier individuals began investing heavily in the practice, recruiting desperate youth to mine illegally on their behalf.
“Over time, people with more resources saw it as a lucrative venture. They invested and hired young people who were already doing artisanal mining to do their bidding,” he said.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu criticised the previous NPP government, accusing it of turning a blind eye while party insiders benefitted from illegal mining.
“The previous government came under fierce criticism because it became obvious that there was governmental complicity. There were big people within the NPP engaging in this,” he stated.
Citing the now-infamous report by Professor Frimpong-Boateng, the former Minister for Environment, he added, “In fact, Professor Frimpong-Boateng is on tape saying clearly that galamsey had become a major source of funding for the New Patriotic Party. So naturally, they were not motivated to address it comprehensively. They deserved the condemnation they received, and I took part in that without any regret.”
Contrasting that with the current administration’s approach, Mr Kwakye Ofosu insisted that President Mahama maintains a strict zero-tolerance stance on any form of mining involvement by his appointees.
“He has told all of us, his appointees, that we are not even permitted to go into legal or lawful mining—let alone illegal. And that the day he hears that any of us has an interest in any form of mining, he is going to dismiss us summarily that very day. So he has made it very clear.”
Mr Kwakye Ofosu highlighted government’s proactive response, especially the collaborative effort between the Lands Ministry, Defence Ministry, Interior Ministry, and the Ghana Armed Forces.
“He, through the Lands Ministry, the Defence Ministry, the Interior Ministry and others, set up a system to beat back galamsey. There were multiple teams. The IGP had one. The military had another. They moved into areas that had been overtaken by illegal miners.”
He revealed startling details about the extent of the problem, especially how armed gangs had taken over forest reserves across the country.
“There are 288 forest reserves in Ghana. When we came into power, 44 of them had been threatened by galamsey, and 9 had already been completely taken over by armed gangs. Our immediate action was to reclaim those 9 and protect the 44 that were at risk.”
According to him, all nine forest reserves seized by illegal miners have now been retaken. But he warned that the fight is ongoing, and complacency is not an option.
“As I speak to you, the nine forest reserves that were taken over by armed gangs have been repossessed by government. But the moment you withdraw, they come back. That’s why the plan now is to ensure permanent presence in the most threatened forest reserves and riverine areas.”
