Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2024 elections, has assured that an NDC government will not ban small-scale illegal mining, known as galamsey, but will instead teach miners how to do it responsibly without harming the environment.
Speaking at an NDC event in Amenfi Central in the Western North Region, Prof Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the need to create sustainable solutions for those involved in galamsey, especially since it has become a means of survival for many due to lack of job opportunities. She criticized the current government for not providing enough employment options, leaving young people in mining areas with limited choices but to engage in galamsey.
“In places like Amenfi, galamsey is everywhere, causing damage to the environment. But what else can the youth do when there are no jobs? They are forced into illegal mining as the only way to make a living,” she stated.
Prof Opoku-Agyemang explained that instead of a ban, an NDC government would focus on improving the way galamsey is carried out. She promised training for galamsey operators, ensuring they can mine in a way that does not destroy water bodies or endanger the environment.
“We have not come here to tell you to stop what you are doing; instead, we are here to show you a better way of doing it safely and sustainably,” she said. “The youth need jobs, and if galamsey is their livelihood, then they should be trained to do it without causing harm to their communities.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore and Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, also shared his position on galamsey, stating that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government will not impose a ban either. He cited political risks and the livelihoods of constituents in mining areas as reasons for not halting the activity.
He argued that the solution lies not in banning galamsey but in regulating it in a way that ensures environmental safety while providing jobs for the youth. Both the NDC and NPP, in their separate approaches, have shown no intent to completely ban galamsey, recognizing its role in local livelihoods and the need for responsible management.
