A former Senior Presidential Aide and Head of the Policy Evaluation and Oversight Unit under the late President John Evans Atta Mills, Dr Tony Aidoo, has told President John Mahama that six months is long enough to solve galamsey.
Dr Tony Aidoo sent a stern warning to the John Mahama-led government.
According to him, the goodwill that the people of Ghana gave the NDC is going to be dissipated due to Mahama’s inaction on galamsey and corruption issues.
He emphasised that Mahama must not think that Ghanaians do not care about the galamsey fight and warned that if he does not solve the galamsey issues, Ghanaians will vote the NDC out in 2028.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News on Thursday, July 17, Dr Tony Aidoo stated, “If the goodwill that the people of Ghana gave the NDC is going to be dissipated, it will be due to inaction on galamsey and corruption issues.
If the government is unable to solve the galamsey issue, I will be disappointed because it was an electoral promise, and you cannot take Ghanaians for a ride,” he stated.
He warned, “Akufo-Addo didn’t care, so President Mahama must not think that Ghanaians do not care about the fight. If he doesn’t solve the galamsey issues, the Ghanaian people will vote the NDC government out in 2028”.
“Six months is long enough to solve galamsey. The Blue Water Guards and the GoldBoard Taskforce are commendable policies, but he should stop the galamsey,” he added.
Mahama’s recent comment on galamsey
President John Dramani Mahama has stated that illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, is now a national emergency.
Mahama condemned the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining in Awaso, Dadieso, and Sefwi Anhwiaso during his Thank You Tour of the Western North Region.
Speaking at a durbar in the Western North Region on Tuesday, July 15, Mahama stated, “We are alarmed by the environmental destruction that is reported across Awaso, Dadieso, and Sefwi-Anhwiaso, mainly due to illegal mining.
I must be honest, this is a national emergency. The national taskforce will continue its efforts to halt illegal mining in our forest reserves and on our water bodies,” he added.
The president also issued a stern warning to anti-galamsey task forces who have been extorting money from legitimate small-scale mining companies.
“I have also noticed the activities of the illegal anti-galamsey taskforces that go round extorting money from legitimate small-scale mining companies.
“I have requested the authorities to arrest and prosecute any individuals involved in this illegal anti-galamsey activity,” President Mahama warned.
The AG actions on galamsey
Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, has recently directed the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate two NDC National executives.
The two have been identified as Joseph Yamin, the NDC’s National Organiser, and Yakubu Abanga, National Vice Chairman.
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, the Attorney General directed EOCO to interrogate the suspect over their alleged involvement in galamsey activities.
