A senior member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, has stated that the government has no intention of banning illegal mining, commonly referred to as “galamsey,” either currently or in the foreseeable future.
Speaking at the launch of the Bawumia Volunteers 2024 (B24) campaign in Kumasi, Dr. Afriyie, who also serves as the Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, acknowledged the government’s awareness of the potential political ramifications of implementing a ban on illegal mining.
According to Dr. Afriyie, such a ban could result in significant electoral defeats for the NPP, as it would turn away constituents who rely on the mining industry for their livelihoods.
He further accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of politicising the issue by allegedly importing foreign nationals to engage in illegal mining activities.
“The opposition party recognized our success in securing seats in mining regions, so they opted to bring in foreigners to engage in illegal mining activities near our water bodies. These waterways had not been problematic until recently, with issues surfacing just a month ago.”
“This seems to be orchestrated by someone to force our government to halt small-scale mining operations, potentially causing us to lose those constituencies. We won’t be stopping these miners anytime soon, whether today or tomorrow.”
Dr. Afriyie’s comments stress on the government’s focus on electoral implications, prioritising constituents’ livelihoods tied to illegal mining over environmental concerns.
Story by: Promise Yaa Dakey | Univers.ug.edu.gh
