Gov’t not showing enough commitment in the fight against galamsey—IERPP boss

The Executive Secretary of the policy think tank, the Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP), Professor Isaac Boadi, has stated that the government is not showing enough commitment in its fight against illegal mining activities.

In a panel discussion on Peace 104.3 FM’s flagship show, Kokrokoo, on Monday, September 15, 2025, Professor Boadi indicated that the current government is not showing any determination to stop galamsey.

“This government and party, NDC, as many promises as they have to Ghanaians prior to the 2024 elections, are not showing any commitment towards the fight against galamsey. The commitment level is down, looking at how galamsey activities have intensified now more than before,” he stated.

According to Professor Boadi, quite a number of pledges were made and policies were captured by the then opposition National Democratic Congress in their manifesto, but very little has been done in fulfilling those promises.

“One wonders why the many beautiful promises the then opposition NDC made have not been fulfilled. The policies are not being implemented, and that’s worrying,” he added.

He also recounted how Organized Labour and UTAG joined forces against the then Akufo-Addo administration over the galamsey fight, a phenomenon that, he held, affected the NPP in the 2024 elections.

“Organised labour and my own UTAG fought the NPP government, calling on them to declare a state of emergency on all forms of mining. The NDC joined in the chorus, ultimately becoming the beneficiaries of those agitations,” he explained further.

The Dean of Accounting and Finance at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), advised the Mahama government to tackle galamsey head-on to avert further deterioration of our environment.

“President Mahama must live up to his words. He promised us an end to galamsey, but the opposite is what’s being witnessed today,” he submitted.