President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has criticized former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his inadequate response to illegal mining, describing his efforts as indifferent and dismissive.
Speaking on Channel One TV on Saturday, January 25, Cudjoe asserted that Akufo-Addo’s administration neglected the environmental destruction caused by galamsey in favor of economic gains.
He accused the former president of failing to take decisive measures against illegal mining, which he said has severely impacted Ghana’s forests and water bodies.
According to him, Akufo-Addo’s leadership approach showed a disregard for the ecological and social consequences of galamsey activities.
“Not long ago, we saw what the former president did. He was just nonchalant about the whole idea of galamsey. He was not ready to call anybody to order,” Cudjoe remarked.
Expressing frustration over the perceived lack of accountability and urgency in addressing illegal mining, he noted that the government’s inaction contributed to severe environmental degradation.
“He [Akufo-Addo] was not ready to call anybody to order. And all these acts tell people that our leaders are not responsible,” he added.
Cudjoe further argued that the government turned a blind eye to the crisis, prioritizing economic stabilization over environmental concerns.
“How do you allow these things to go on, and some people claimed it was an opportunity to stabilize the cedi, otherwise it would have reached GH¢25 to the dollar? They ignored an ecological disaster,” he stated.
Illegal mining in Ghana has led to extensive deforestation, contamination of water bodies, and destruction of vital ecosystems. Rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, and Birim have been polluted with heavy metals like mercury, making them unsafe for drinking and agriculture.
The large-scale destruction of forest cover by illegal miners has rendered vast areas of land unsuitable for restoration, further compounding the challenges of climate change and food security.