Sammy Gyamfi accuses Akufo-Addo government of targeting anti-galamsey campaigners
The Ghana Gold Board CEO says people who spoke out against illegal mining were targeted under the previous NPP administration, arguing that the government failed to confront the galamsey menace.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has accused the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of targeting people who campaigned against illegal mining instead of tackling the galamsey menace.
He said the fight against illegal mining under former President Nana Akufo-Addo was misdirected, claiming that individuals who spoke out against the destruction of the environment were arrested and imprisoned.
“In 2024, there was no fight against illegal mining in Ghana under President Akufo-Addo. The fight was rather against those fighting illegal mining. Some were arrested and put into prison cells,” Mr Gyamfi said.
He made the remarks in an interview on UTV Ghana on Friday, where he criticised the previous administration's handling of illegal mining and compared it with the approach of President John Dramani Mahama's government.
Gyamfi contrasts Mahama and Akufo-Addo administrations
Mr Gyamfi argued that the Mahama administration had demonstrated a stronger commitment to confronting illegal mining and protecting Ghana's natural resources.
He presented the current government's approach as a departure from what he described as the previous administration's failure to take decisive action against galamsey.
Illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, remains a major environmental and public policy concern in Ghana, with the protection of water bodies, forests and other natural resources central to efforts to address the practice.
His remarks also raise questions about the treatment of individuals and groups who have campaigned against galamsey, particularly his allegation that some were arrested and imprisoned under the previous administration.