Illegal mining and infrastructure funding continue to dominate the political conversations, with Ashanti Regional Communications Director of the NPP, Paul Yandoh, openly accusing the government of inconsistency and lack of accountability.
Yandoh raised questions about the handling of galamsey arrests.
“Six people were arrested by the Asokwa Police with their machines and tools seized, yet because of political pressure, they may be released,” he said on Wontumi TV.
He argued that recent ultimatums to illegal miners were meaningless, adding, “Frank Amoah gave a two-week deadline for miners to vacate their sites, but they are still operating. That ultimatum was purely rhetorical.”
Turning to infrastructure, Yandoh dismissed former President John Mahama’s allegation that $2 million from an Afrexim Bank loan had been misapplied.
“The NPP government actually secured $346 million from Afrexim Bank, an additional $200 million, and a $146 million budgetary allocation for roads,” he explained. According to him, about 68% of the Accra-Amasaman Road was completed before the current administration took office.
He also suggested that the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, should be well informed about the financing arrangements.
“As a former Deputy Minister of Finance and Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, Dr. Forson was directly involved in budget preparation. He cannot claim not to know how the money was allocated,” Yandoh said.
Comparing records, he pointed out that the NDC constructed about 4,000 kilometers of roads between 2009 and 2016, while the NPP completed roughly 13,000 kilometers between 2017 and 2024.
“So when the NDC now promises to build 5,000 kilometers, it is not only lower than what we achieved but also raises doubts about whether they can deliver,” he added.
