I Lobbied Napo for Transformer, but Used it to Support Galamsey — Collins Dauda

Embattled Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi South, Alhaji Collins Dauda, has made a shocking confession that in 2024, he lobbied the then-Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Napo) for a transformer that he ultimately used to support illegal mining (galamsey) activities in Woramumuso, a community within his constituency.

Dauda claimed that he informed Napo that the transformer was intended to improve power supply to Woramumuso. However, he admitted that, as an MP, he had other plans for the transformer, primarily aiming to benefit galamsey operations in the area.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, Dauda appears to defend his role as an enabler of galamsey, arguing that he wants to help the local community.

I support galamsey

While addressing a group of community members, including chiefs, in his constituency, Dauda stated that if he did not want galamsey to continue, he would not have sent the transformer to the galamsey site.

He emphasized that he was there to serve their interests, which included supporting their engagement in galamsey activities.

Dauda explained that before the 2024 elections, galamsey operations were active in Woramumuso, but they faced challenges due to inadequate electricity supply. “The town suffered from low voltage electricity, so they needed an additional transformer. The people informed me about the problem, so I approached Napo to help me with a larger transformer to support the existing one in the village,” Dauda recounted.

He acknowledged that the need for a new and larger transformer arose specifically because of galamsey activities. “I obtained two large transformers for the village, and when I brought them, I installed one in the area where galamsey operations take place.”

Hwidiem attacks

Selorm Branttie, Vice President for Innovation and Technology at IMANI Africa, has called for the resignation of two National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs: eight-term MP Collins Dauda and Asutifi North MP, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo. This demand follows accusations that the MPs were complicit in disturbances at Hwidiem in Ahafo, where they allegedly obstructed a NAIMOS task force from clamping down on illegal mining (galamsey).