Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah, leader of the Generational Rights Protection Society, has accused President John Mahama’s administration of inadvertently supporting illegal mining through the establishment of the GoldBod, a board aimed at regulating gold purchases in Ghana.
Speaking to Kwaku Dawuro on Movement TV, Mensah criticized the initiative, which was led by Sammy Gyamfi, calling it a covert attempt to promote illegal mining activities under the guise of small-scale mining.
“He has established the galamsey board association headed by Sammy Gyamfi. He tells us he is against galamsey but with the speed of Usain Bolt he has established the galamsey board to buy 12 tons of gold,” Mensah stated.
Mensah further questioned the origins of the gold that the GoldBod intends to purchase, noting the inconsistencies in the government’s approach.
“We asked if they are going to get the 12 tons from Anglo Gold Ashanti, New Mount or Precious mining and he says no but that he says he is going to buy it from small-scale miners. On paper they claim they are practicing small-scale mining but in the bush, they are doing illegal mining,” he added.
Through the creation of the GoldBod, Mensah believes that Mahama’s government is directly facilitating illegal mining activities, with Sammy Gyamfi playing a central role in promoting such operations.
He likened the GoldBod to a “galamsey board,” accusing Mahama of enabling these destructive practices.
