Franklin Cudjoe, Founding President of IMANI Africa, has expressed skepticism regarding the government’s commitment to addressing illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, despite recent discussions between Organized Labour and the president. In a candid interview with Radio Gold, Cudjoe questioned the sincerity of the president’s promises to tackle the environmental crisis caused by illegal mining, labeling them as unreliable.
Reacting to the meeting between Organized Labour and the president, Cudjoe stated, “I am happy that when they (Organized Labour) went, they told him that all the things you are saying, put it on paper.” However, he was quick to express his doubt, adding, “Even if you put it on paper, he won’t do foko… Even if he draws blood and signs, he won’t do it.”
Cudjoe’s sharp critique centers around the president’s long-standing inaction on the galamsey issue. He accused the government of neglecting the problem over a seven-year period, issuing more mining licenses than ever before, with little to no regulation. “Somebody spent seven years and nine months to disregard everybody on the galamsey issue, issued more mining licenses than ever before, and there are people… foolishly asking why it is only two months ago that the waters are muddying,” he pointed out, dismissing claims that the opposition NDC was to blame for the recent deterioration of water bodies.
His remarks come in the wake of a series of public concerns over the destruction caused by galamsey, which has resulted in the pollution of rivers and the destruction of ecosystems. Despite numerous promises by the government to tackle the menace, Cudjoe believes the problem has only worsened due to a lack of proper oversight and the issuance of mining licenses “without guardrails.”
He went further to caution Organized Labour against falling for what he described as the president’s fading charm, stating, “They should not fall for the president’s charm; there is even nothing charming about him again.” While acknowledging that the union leaders attended the meeting out of respect for the presidency, Cudjoe was critical of the entire gesture. “Personally, I would have turned the invitation down except that it is personal… If he had invited me, I would have said, ‘No, Mr. President, you have lost the plot.'”
Franklin Cudjoe’s remarks reflect growing public frustration over the government’s handling of the galamsey crisis. Despite previous campaigns to halt illegal mining and restore Ghana’s water bodies, the situation appears to be worsening, and Cudjoe’s pointed critique suggests that without real accountability, promises on paper may never translate into meaningful action.
