Mahama Accused of Using Mining Crackdown to Thwart NPP Gold Extraction Plans

In a viral video on social media, a Chinese illegal miner is heard alleging that former President Mahama is orchestrating the ongoing crackdown on illegal mining in Ghana.

He alleges that this operation aims to prevent President Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from extracting all the gold from the country’s lands before the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, potentially returns to power.

Galamsey, or illegal small-scale mining, has emerged as a significant threat in Ghana, endangering the environment, public health, and local communities. The environmental impact is severe, with illegal miners causing deforestation and using toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide, which contaminate water bodies and soil, posing serious health risks.

In response, the government launched Operation Halt to combat illegal mining, deploying military personnel to dismantle operations and seize equipment. While this initiative has seen some success, its effectiveness has been debated, with critics arguing that it fails to address the socio-economic factors driving individuals to engage in galamsey.

The crisis has also become a political battleground, with the public engaging in blame games between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Many in the general public attribute the galamsey issues to the NDC, claiming that illegal mining has persisted during their tenure.

While they acknowledge that the NPP has exacerbated the situation, there is a prevailing sentiment that both parties share the blame, as galamsey has flourished under both administrations.

This blame-shifting complicates the discourse surrounding galamsey and detracts from the urgent need for a collaborative approach that focuses on sustainable solutions, community engagement, and political accountability to protect Ghana’s natural resources and the well-being of its citizens.

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