A Strong supporter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and CEO of Marrer Ghana Limited, Susatgad Boat Building and Fishing Industry, Mr. Novihoho Afaglo, has declared that the government led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is no longer morally qualified to combat corruption in the nation.
According to Mr. Afaglo, the Galamsey benefits Nana Akufo-Addo, his vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the current NPP presidential candidate, the NPP’s functional leaders, and its core members. As such, opposing the Galamsey would be like to throwing water on a stone.
He claimed that because the same persons who claim they will outlaw unlawful mining are also deeply involved in the industry and receiving its benefits, any attempts to stop Galamsey, or illicit mining, have been futile.
According to Mr. Afaglo, President Akufo-Addo’s 2017 internet proclamation banning small-scale mining resulted in the loss of four parliamentary seats in the 2020 elections.
Previously NPP strongholds, the impacted constituencies were Prestea Huni Valley, Upper West Denkyira, Amenfi Central, and Evalue Ajomoro Gwira.
He makes the widely-criticized claim that the ban had detrimental economic effects on communities that depended on small-scale mining.
In these communities, opposition to the government’s Operation Vanguard, a military-police task force created to suppress galamsey, increased animosity toward the NPP.
The CEO said that opponents of President Akufo-Addo’s government, such as Attorney Appiah Danquah, claim that the administration has not been successful in stopping illicit mining.
Difficulties in Fighting Galamsey
According to Mr. Afaglo, the prohibition on small-scale mining has caused financial difficulties for mining communities. The opposition from the community stems from the belief that the party has profited from galamsey and that it is hypocritical to forbid them from continuing with it.
“Because this year is an election year and the party learning from what happened in 2020 which led to the loss of four parliamentary seats, NPP would like to desist from a repeat and hence will not show any serious commitment in the fight against galamsey,” he stated.
Overall, the NPP government’s struggles to effectively combat galamsey underscore the complexity of the issue and the need for a collaborative, nuanced approach.
“I have over the years written to the presidency advising them on how to educate small-scale miners but no one has shown interest,” Mr. Afaglo
