Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has spiraled out of control under the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), a key New Patriotic Party (NPP) communicator has claimed.
Speaking on Wontumi TV, Jones Nyamesem accused the NDC of enabling and protecting unlawful mining activities.
“Galamsey has now become a free-for-all under the NDC. Who dares you as a police officer or soldier to stop it when their executives are involved?” he asked, highlighting what he described as government complicity in the illegal trade.
Mr. Nyamesem further warned of the environmental consequences of unchecked mining. “This is a very serious national issue.
“We are consuming the last waters we have, and they are toxic. In just eight months, the turbidity level of our water bodies has risen from 14,000 to 94,000—this is unprecedented in our history,” he said, stressing the urgency of immediate action.
In a related development, MyNewsGh earlier reported that while public frustration mounts over illegal small-scale mining, IMANI’s Criticality Analysis of Governance and Economic Issues cautions against an uncritical rush toward declaring a state of emergency.
The think tank acknowledges the scale of the crisis but warns that extraordinary powers may create more risks than solutions if not properly sequenced.
According to IMANI, emergency powers are blunt instruments that often weaken accountability mechanisms and infringe on civil liberties.
They may yield quick security gains, equipment seizures, forced shutdowns, and restricted movement in high-risk zones, but these victories can prove unsustainable.
“Short-term surges risk collapsing into long-term setbacks if prosecutions are not pursued in civilian courts or if communities reliant on small-scale mining are alienated by militarised crackdowns,” the analysis stresses.
The Presidency, for its part, has indicated it prefers to exhaust conventional measures first.
Current initiatives include a permit-tracking regime for heavy machinery, tighter chemical use prohibitions, and stronger community development agreements.
