The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has stated that getting the New Patriotic Party (NPP) out of office at the polls in December is the surest way to end illegal mining locally known as ‘galamsey’.
He noted that while illegal mining has been an issue in Ghana for years, it has surged under the current administration.
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Mr Gyamfi attributed this increase to government officials and wealthy individuals who have invested in excavators for illegal mining activities, arguing that this is why the problem cannot be resolved.
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Speaking on JoyNews, Mr Gyamfi said, “The only way we can deal with this problem is for the people of this country to vote for change and boot them out because they have proven that they cannot fight illegal mining. They came to enrich themselves.”
He stated that if the NDC is elected they would launch a serious fight against illegal mining and implement a comprehensive plan to restore the devastated water bodies.
Mr Gyamfi said that the NDC will achieve this through the “Tree for Life” initiative and the “Blue Water Project.”
He explained that the Blue Water Project would focus on reclaiming polluted water bodies. Mr Gyamfi referenced a documentary by JoyNews journalist Araba Koomson, comparing the state of the Ankobra River in 2016 to its condition at the time of the documentary.
He noted that the documentary showed the water was crystal clear under John Mahama but had turned brown under Akufo-Addo’s administration.
“Today, you look at that same River Ankobra, and the water is as brown as chocolate. The same goes for the Pra River, and this is why Ghanaians in the Central and Western Regions do not have water flowing through their taps. That is why the Ghana Water Company is saying that the turbidity levels of these water bodies are now so high that they cannot even treat it,” he said.
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