Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the Communications Director of the 2024 Bawumia campaign, has taken a strong stance against the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over what he describes as their poor handling of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, in Ghana.
According to Aboagye, the NDC underestimated the complexity of the galamsey issue while in opposition and are now facing the harsh realities of governing. He said the NDC made illegal mining appear easy to regulate and used misleading promises to win votes during the 2024 election campaign.
“Sometimes when I wake up and see the galamsey issues and how this government is struggling with it, I feel like just laughing at them. We told them, and they knew we were right,” Aboagye remarked, reflecting on the NPP’s prior warnings.
He further alleged that senior figures within the NDC, including then-candidate John Mahama, made statements during the 2024 campaign that emboldened illegal miners. According to Aboagye, Mahama pledged to release arrested miners and criticized the NPP’s law enforcement approach to tackling galamsey.
“We told them it was wrong to stand on a campaign platform and say, ‘I don’t see why people should be arrested in the pits. When I come to office, I’ll release all the galamseyers.’ That’s what he (Mahama) said,” Aboagye claimed.
He criticized the NDC for politicizing illegal mining, saying that such a strategy undermines national efforts to regulate the sector and protect the environment. Aboagye stressed that sustainable progress can only be made if the issue is treated as a national problem, devoid of political influence.
“Until we depoliticize galamsey, no matter the structures put in place, it will not work,” he emphasized.
Illegal mining has long posed environmental, economic, and security challenges in Ghana. Successive governments have struggled to enforce regulations and maintain control over the sector, often due to the influence of powerful individuals and political interference.
Aboagye’s comments highlight the ongoing debate about how best to manage the artisanal mining industry while protecting the country’s natural resources. As the NDC-led administration grapples with rising pressure to act, critics like Aboagye believe that acknowledging the non-partisan nature of the problem is the first step toward meaningful reform.
With the nation watching closely, the success or failure of current anti-galamsey efforts could shape future political discourse—and determine whether Ghana can strike a balance between economic opportunity and environmental responsibility.
