NDC hasn’t shown the expected commitment to fight galamsey – Sulemana Braimah

Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), expressed disappointment with the Mahama administration's response to illegal mining, or galamsey. He stated that the government's actions have not shown the level of commitment necessary to combat environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.

Mr Braimah noted that the government's actions did not reflect the urgency and seriousness needed to address the issue, particularly pollution of water bodies and destruction of forest reserves. Despite the NDC's strong opposition positions on the issue, Braimah felt that the current administration had not lived up to its promises.

The executive director questioned the progress of the government's proposed cooperative mining arrangement, which aims to organize and regulate small-scale miners. He emphasized the need for tangible progress in implementing a system that provides an alternative to illegal mining.

Braimah also mentioned that his concerns were rooted in disappointment rather than the belief that the party had misled the public. He highlighted the importance of clear evidence that the proposed interventions were being implemented, especially considering the scale of the problem and the identification of 42 communities affected by mining activities.

The executive director cautioned that simply removing miners from sites without providing an alternative would be challenging, as many depend on the activity for their livelihoods. He proposed a more organized approach to mining, where miners could be brought together into regulated groups following responsible mining practices to address economic concerns while exercising greater control over mining activities.