Richard Ahiagbah, the Director of Communications for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has alleged that John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is responsible for exacerbating the issue of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
He claims that Mahama and the NDC are advocates for galamsey and that Mahama’s proposal to utilize Artificial Intelligence to combat the problem is merely a ploy to gain votes from the Ghanaian populace.
John Mahama made this announcement during a speech at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani on May 15, at the 3rd Annual Transformational Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining.
We will introduce and encourage technological innovation to improve capacity for coordinated monitoring of the small-scale mining sector and reduce environmental impact.
This will include using AI to locate all small-scale mining and galamsey operations, track excavators, and geo-fence all concessions to ensure mining operations are not conducted in unapproved areas, including water bodies.
Nevertheless, in a statement shared on his verified X page, the Director of Communication for the NPP expressed his viewpoint, stating that the NDC actively supports and encourages galamsey.
Consequently, he dismissed H.E Mahama’s proposal to address the issue using an AI-powered plan as a mere ploy to gain votes. The problem of galamsey is a critical one that demands collective efforts from all segments of society to tackle.
However, the Director firmly believes that resolving this menace is unattainable with H.E John Mahama and the NDC, as they not only endorse but also benefit from galamsey activities.
The NDC are promoters of galamsey. Therefore, H.E Mahama’s promise to use AI-powered plan to combat galamsey is a vote-seeking gimmick. Galamsey is an existential problem that requires inputs from all strata of society to combat. Resolving the galamsey menace is impossible with H.E John Mahama and the NDC because they are promoters and beneficiaries of galamsey.
He claims that there is some evidence supporting his claim that the NDC promoted the practice of galamsey during the tenure of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.
The widely publicized 2020 video of Kwaku Boahen, then, Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC, promising a golden age of galamsey to voters in mining communities across the country.
H.E Mahama promised to free galamsey convicts in 2020, at a campaign event at Mpohor, and has repeated the same promise following his selection as the flagbearer of the NDC for the 2024 presidential election.
Richard Ahiagbah claimed that the battle against galamsey would prove to be an ineffective endeavor if led by John Mahama and the NDC administration.
Solution to the fight against galamsey is impossible with Mahama & the NDC.
Vote Bawumia for a bold solution to the galamsey menace. It’s possible.
