Galamsey Is Not New: Afia Korankyewaa Defends President Mahama

Afia Korankyewaa, a Communications Member of the Movement for Change, appeared on United Television on July 24, 2025, where she addressed the ongoing issue of illegal mining, known as galamsey, in Ghana.

She criticized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for pressuring President John Dramani Mahama as if galamsey began only within the seven months of his administration, which started on January 7, 2025, following his victory in the December 2024 elections.

Korankyewaa argued that galamsey has been a persistent problem, implying it was also prevalent during the NPP’s eight-year governance under former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

She emphasized that the issue predates Mahama’s current term and urged the NPP to stop framing it as a new problem exclusive to his administration.

During the discussion, Korankyewaa reportedly stated that if President Mahama were to tour the Western Region, he would observe galamsey operations occurring openly by the roadside, highlighting the visibility and ongoing nature of the issue.

Her comments reflect a broader public and political discourse on galamsey, which has been a significant environmental and social concern in Ghana, causing deforestation, water pollution, and health risks due to the use of chemicals like mercury in mining activities.

Galamsey has been a longstanding challenge in Ghana, escalating into what many describe as a national emergency. It involves unregulated small-scale mining, often conducted illegally, which has led to severe environmental degradation, including the contamination of major rivers like the Pra, Ankobra, and Birim, and the destruction of forest reserves and farmlands.

The issue gained significant attention during the 2024 election campaign, with both major candidates—Mahama (National Democratic Congress, NDC) and Mahamudu Bawumia (NPP)—promising to address it.

President Mahama, who previously served from 2012 to 2016, has faced scrutiny over his approach to galamsey. During his first term, his administration banned mining in forest reserves, but the problem persisted.

Galamsey Fight: Partisan Politics Is A Big Problem!

Since taking office in January 2025, Mahama has declared galamsey a national emergency and outlined measures to combat it, including stricter law enforcement, stakeholder engagement, alternative livelihood programs, and the establishment of a Gold Board to regulate the mining sector.

He has also launched initiatives like the Trees for Life Reforestation Initiative to restore lands degraded by galamsey and directed that no government appointees engage in mining activities, with 71 arrests and the seizure of equipment reported by March 2025. However, critics, including the NPP and civil society groups, have accused Mahama’s administration of insufficient action.

A survey by Global Info Analytics in April 2025 found that 44% of Ghanaians believed the fight against galamsey had not improved under Mahama. Korankyewaa’s remarks align with a defensive stance, likely reflecting the Movement for Change’s perspective that the NPP’s criticisms are politically motivated.