 elder, has quizzed the critics of the John Mahama-led government){kind=link}
Kwame Pianim, a renowned statesman and New Patriotic Party (NPP) elder, has quizzed the critics of the John Mahama-led government, berating them for their failure to tackle illegal mining commonly known as galamsey.
He noted that the NDC government is barely eight months into its four-year term, and the criticism levelled against them so far in their fight against galamsey is unfair.
According to him, former president Akufo-Addo was in power for 8 years, and what did the NPP do in their fight against galamsey?
Speaking in an interview with TV3 on August 14, 2025, Kwame Pianim stated, “Look, the president has arrived barely eight months. Who am I to judge him?”
“My party, Akufo-Addo’s government, was in power for eight years. What did we do about it? So, it’s not the time for allocating blame. There’s time for facing our responsibilities seriously as Ghanaians,” he added.
However, Miracles Aboagye, an aide to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has told the Mahama government to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining commonly known as galamsey.
The NPP man affirmed that it is not enough to say they are renewing the fight against galamsey.
According to Miracles Aboagye, Ghanaians want to see results and not rhetoric in the fight against galamsey.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 16, Miracles Aboagye stated, “I want them to declare the state of emergency now, as you believed in it in opposition”.
“It is absurd for them to be now giving excuses not to do that”, he added.
“What have you been doing all this time if you’re now going to renew the galamsey fight?” he asked.
Miracles Aboagye added, “It is not enough to say you are renewing the fight. The people want to see results, not rhetoric”.
“This is about the future of our children and the survival of our communities. We need leadership that will act firmly and consistently, not one that revisits the same promises every few years,” he emphasised.
Miracles Aboagye further cautioned the John Mahama-led government that posterity will judge them if they fail to tackle galamsey.
He added, “For the first time, they have in us, the NPP, an opposition party that has made a firm commitment not to do politics out of galamsey. They should take advantage of that and let us fix this existential threat once and for all. If they fail at it, posterity will judge them”.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that President John Dramani Mahama will lead a very ruthless and relentless fight against galamsey.
According to Ablakwa, Ghana is going to see John Mahama lead the charge to stop the existential threat of illegal mining confronting Ghanaians.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, August 14, Mr Ablakwa stated, “I can confirm to you that you are going to see a fight that has never been witnessed before in this country. President Mahama is going to lead a very ruthless and relentless fight against galamsey.
He didn’t mince his words. We had a brief cabinet meeting, and the President was very clear that he would lead a war we have never seen before to stop this existential threat confronting us,” he stated.
Also, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, the Media Relations Officer at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has hinted at a possible repeal of LI 2462.
Speaking on NewsFile on Saturday, August 16, Paa Kwesi Schandorf said, “I could say authoritatively now here is that there’s a renewed conversation on L1 2462, and in the not too distant future, there would be an appropriate communication in that particular respect where the repeal is concerned.
That conversation has been had, indeed, there was a crunch Cabinet meeting that exhausted that possibility, and so the final outcome will be communicated very soon”.