Rev John Ntim Fordjour, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, has accused President John Mahama and the NDC of choosing gold over the lives of Ghanaians and the environment.
The lawmaker in a post on Saturday, September 27, accused President Mahama of insensitively endorsing illegal gold mining during his press briefing, as quoted:
“Gold, whether from illegal or legal sources, at least since it is our environment that is being destroyed, we must enjoy the benefits rather than foreigners enjoying it”
He highlighted that the NDC promised to declare a State of Emergency on illegal gold mining while in opposition, but today, NDC apparatchiks and stalwarts scramble for forests and rivers.
In his post, Rev John Ntim Fordjour stated, “After promising to declare a State of Emergency on illegal gold mining while in opposition, NDC apparatchiks and stalwarts scramble for forests and rivers to bastardise to enrich themselves while our citizens suffer from devastating effects of poisoned rivers”.
He further called on the NDC government to publish turbidity levels of all rivers daily, ban the importation of water, and declare a state of emergency on galamsey, consistent with your collective promise.
“What shall it profit President Mahama and NDC to choose gold over precious lives and the environment. It is unconscionable to destroy our river bodies and forests just to make money for your government and party apparatchiks”, his post concluded.
Captain Smart, the Host of Onua Maakye on Onua TV, has ordered President John Mahama to dismiss the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, over his failure to oversee the repeal of LI 2462.
According to Captain Smart, if the Attorney General stay in office, the Mahama-led government cannot fight galamsey.
He highlighted that the Attorney General’s shortcomings stem from his history with the controversial LI 2462, which permits mining in forest reserves, which was approved in the 8th Parliament during his tenure as Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee.
Captain Smart asserted that Dr Dominic Ayine might be excused for his role in the law’s approval because he was in opposition, but nothing prevents him from taking action now as Attorney General.
Speaking on Onua Maakye on Onua TV, Captain Smart stated, “If the law allows mining for gold in our forest reserves. If Dominic Ayine is still in office as Attorney General, that law cannot be repealed. President Mahama must sack him, Your Excellency, sack Dominic Ayine”.
“The NDC used that law as a campaign against the NPP. Dominic Ayine was the chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee; now he is the Attorney General. The document is on his table, and he is using legal language to delay the repeal the L.I. Mahama will come and meet you in this country. Ayine Mahama will come and meet you”.
He added, “If this Attorney General does not go, I swear to God, they can’t fight it. Whoever believes he is a man should come for a bet. Because from the very moment Dominic Ayine sat on the Subsidiary Legislation Committee and changed the wording to enable that law to come into fruition, President Akufo-Addo and Mr Ayisi, the then-Minerals Commission CEO, issued over two thousand small-scale mining licenses in a space of eight months”.
“You have been in government for nine months; why haven’t you repealed that law? When Parliament approved the E-Levy, Ato Forson went back to the same Parliament for its repeal, and he did the same for the Emission Levy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the lands minister, has announced that the John Mahama-led government will declare all water bodies and forest reserves security zones.
The Lands minister warned that anyone caught engaging in illegal mining within these protected areas will do so at their own risk.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah detailed, “We are moving another step further, and that step says we are going to declare all the water bodies and our forests security zones. And you stay there and engage in illegal mining activity at your own risk. That is the step,”
“When the President said that we are going to use all the steps, that’s what he meant. And so I’m very confident. How can people leave red zones for you when you come and clear within nine months? And those people who have caused the damage have the audacity to be talking?” he said.
He added, “I think that the Attorney General is on top of this matter, and anybody engaged in illegal mining, we don’t care who you are or how politically connected, we will arrest and prosecute you”.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah further assured that the government will ensure the strict and impartial prosecution of illegal mining offenders.
He stressed, “We don’t care who you are or how politically connected you may be. Anyone arrested will be prosecuted. This time, there are no calls from anybody, no interference”.
“We are not only enforcing the law, we are reforming it. Our aim is to stop the bleeding, restore our rivers, and ensure that mining is done responsibly,” he said.
See the post below:
This is River Ankobra under President Mahama. Many other rivers including water treated by Ghana Water Company are in similar terrible state. Yet, President Mahama rather insensitively endorsed illegal gold mining during his press briefing as quoted:
— John Ntim Fordjour MP (@NtimFordjour) September 27, 2025
“gold, whether from illegal… pic.twitter.com/L2yHo9C17a