Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, has strongly criticized the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration’s handling of illegal mining, also known as ‘galamsey.’
Speaking before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on January 27, Armah-Kofi Buah acknowledged the NPP’s initial efforts but described their fight as a “failure.”
He condemned illegal mining activities, particularly those affecting water bodies, calling them “unacceptable” and emphasizing the need for stringent measures.
“It’s true the NPP administration started very well, there was a ban on mining places, it was six months, and it extended to nine months,” he noted.
“But at the end of the 8 years, the outcome is what we all know—degraded lands, polluted water bodies, and wanton destruction of forest reserves. These are clearly facts that indicate that that fight against was a failure.”
Armah-Kofi Buah pledged to address the issue with decisive action and implement sustainable solutions to protect Ghana’s environment and water resources.
The criticism comes after former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo faced widespread criticism for failing to deliver on his 2017 promise to combat galamsey, despite vowing to put his presidency on the line.