National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has argued that the Akufo-Addo administration’s determined fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, was unfairly turned into a political weapon against the government.
Speaking on the maiden edition of Prime Insight, Mustapha stressed that the galamsey menace predates the current government and is deeply entrenched in powerful interests.
“I dare say the fight against galamsey has proven quite a very stubborn one that has unfortunately plunged the nation into grief beyond all the shenanigans and the politics. It didn’t start now. This menace has been around for a very long time,” he explained.
He criticised the opposition for politicising the issue during the 2020 elections.
“If we were to pick it on that basis, we would have dealt with it well, but to reduce it to politics and weaponise it like they did in the last elections against the NPP speaks volumes. It was weaponised through demonstrations and slogans, with hands placed on the neck of former President Akufo-Addo.”
According to Mustapha, the galamsey industry is far bigger than politics and largely controlled by well-organised groups.
“These are enterprises controlled by cartels, powerful blocs and people who don’t care about politicians or politics. Their interest is in wealth, influence and money,” he noted.
He further revealed how the government’s crackdown on galamsey had electoral consequences.
“Because of the fight, in the 2020 elections, we lost 19 seats on the mining radar and virtually all the mining constituencies except for a few around Obuasi and Akwatia.
“You would not believe that NPP lost a seat like Akrofuom in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region. The ramifications are dire, and the weaponization of it is what has made it so.”
