Galamsey: NDC must be careful not to lose the public goodwill so quickly – Manteaw

3 News

Thu 10th Apr, 2025 12:30

Civil Society activist, Dr Steve Manteaw, is cautioning the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to lose the public goodwill so quickly over the illegal small scale mining menace.

This was after he described the performance of the government in fighting the galamsey menace as lackluster.

Even more annoying, he said, is the decision to deport rather than jail foreigners who offend the laws.

In a post on his Facebook page, Dr Manteaw said, “I’m appalled by this lackluster performance in combating the galamsey menace. Even more annoying is the decision to deport rather than jail foreigners who offend our laws. Are Ghanaian offenders less human than those foreigners who offend our laws with impunity?

“This is certainly not what Ghanaians bargained for. Mahama and the NDC should be careful not to lose the public goodwill so quickly. STILL WATCHING THE SPACE.”

His comment comes at a time when the Mahama administration has decided not to waste time and resources prosecuting foreigners arrested for criminal activities in Ghana.

Rather, they will be deported, the Minister of the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka has said.

The state-owned Graphiconline quoted Muntaka as saying that  investigations by the security agencies have uncovered criminal networks involving some foreign nationals who operate in Ghana’s forests, engaging in illegal mining, cutting down trees without authorisation, and defrauding people across the world through cybercrime.

“What we found, the kind of activities that were purely destroying citizens around the world, using a system that is set up, that was so sophisticated. Many of them are into our forests. Many of them are cutting our trees unlawfully. Others are involved in galamsey activities. And many, many other crimes,” Mr Muntaka said.

“For these two crimes, when we arrest any foreigner, we are not interested in prosecuting him. Our first option is to take them back to their country. And this is something that we are very serious about,” he stated during an engagement with the Ashanti Regional Police Command in Kumasi as part of his working visit to the region last Friday, (April 4 2025),

Meanwhile, the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has told the Mahama administration to repeal the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) that allows mining in the forests, rather than the proposed amendment.

UTAG urged the government to intensify its efforts to eradicate illegal mining, including increased deployment of more security forces to enforce the security red zones in the forest reserves and water bodies.

It is recalled that during the 2024 campaign season, the then-candidate Mahama promised to repeal the LI that permits mining in the forest. However, after winning the elections, his administration has sent a signal to rather amend it.

Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, assured that concerns around the L.I would be dealt with by the process to amend the Minerals and Mining Act 2003.

To him, this is a demonstration that the Mahama administration is a listening government.

“We are beginning the process of amending the Minerals and Mining Act 2003 to bar individuals from mining in forest areas,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, April 5.

He added, “The process to amend the mining law satisfies issues around the LI permitting mining in the forest.

“This is a clear demonstration that this government listens to the concerns,” he said.

His comment attracted criticisms from the Convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Dr Ken Ashigbey, who told President John Dramani Mahama to fulfill his promise to remove the Legislative Instrument.

Ken Ashigbey said that the particular LI was bad and should go.

Read Also: Ken Ashigbey to Mahama: You have removed E-levy; why do you fail to remove L.I on mining in forests?

He wondered why President Mahama has fulfilled his promise to remove the E-levy but is failing on his promise to remove the LI for mining in the forest.

“How come the president who said he is going to revoke L.I, is now saying that we should amend, that is a blot,” Ken Ashigeby said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday April 5.

They shared with NEC the government’s comprehensive five-pillar strategy to address illegal mining (Galamsey) in Ghana, which includes law enforcement, stakeholder engagement, licensing reforms, reclamation of degraded lands, and alternative livelihood support.

UTAG said it recognised the efforts of the government in the fight and the modest successes chalked but felt more drastic measures to ensure the fight is won.

It reaffirmed its dedication to collaborating closely with government and other key stakeholders to fight against this existential threat. The Association pledged to make its expertise available to the government in support of conducting relevant research for evidence-based policy formulation, stakeholder engagements, public education and community mobilization against Galamsey.

“Additionally, UTAG called for a repeal of LI 2462 instead of the proposed amendment and to declare forest reserves as security red zones that must be trespassed. The Association urged the government to intensify its efforts to eradicate illegal mining, including increased deployment of more security forces to enforce the security red zones in the forest reserves and water bodies.

“Furthermore, NEC called for targeted action against entities facilitating illegal mining activities, including manufacturers and dealers of Changfa machines and owners of excavators, as well as the clandestine involvement of influential business and political figures,” the communique said.

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