Stop dragging NPP, focus on galamsey fight

Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged the government to stop dragging the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into discussions on illegal mining and instead focus on addressing the menace.

Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Miracles Aboagye accused elements within the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of being heavily involved in illegal small-scale mining activities, also known as galamsey.

“The NDC is heavily involved in galamsey. When we went round the Akwatia and the Ayensuano area, they are heavily involved,” he alleged.

He painted a grim picture of illegal mining operations along major water bodies, describing the devastation he personally observed.

“With the Offin River, the galamseyers have diverted the path of the river, and they are mining in it. They use the fresh water from the river to wash the gold, and the dirty water flows to the right path. When you stand by the road, you will see them. Just beside them is a police checkpoint. These miners are there mining with impunity and without fear,” he recounted.

On the Pra River, Aboagye claimed, illegal miners were using five chamfans directly on the river.

“The area is so noisy that when we flew our drones, they couldn’t see or hear it. Our drones went so low that we could capture faces. The situation is terrible,” he said.

According to him, the government should stop attempting to politicise the matter by referencing the NPP, since the party is no longer in power.

“Wonder [Madilo] and his people should stop talking about NPP. For now, the NPP doesn’t matter. We are out of the office. No law determines where, how, or when somebody speaks. You are in power; the mandate has been given to you. Fix the darn thing,” he stressed.