Accra: Dr Ekua Amoakoh, Deputy Spokesperson for the 2028 New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has criticized the government's ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, by deploying military forces. She argued that this approach is not novel and has failed to produce the desired outcomes.
According to Ghana Web, Dr Amoakoh emphasized that deploying soldiers to address illegal mining has been attempted in the past and should not be portrayed as an innovative solution. During her appearance on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV on August 18, 2026, she pointed out that previous military interventions have not effectively curbed the galamsey issue.
Dr Amoakoh further expressed skepticism about the government's claim of successfully reclaiming nine forest reserves as part of its anti-illegal mining campaign. She contended that the reality on the ground does not match the government's assertions, stating, "No, it is not right, those nine forests that they are saying it is a no-go area, it is not like that on the ground."
Her remarks come in the wake of renewed governmental efforts to address the illegal mining problem. The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, was officially established on June 26, 2025, to better coordinate the nation's anti-galamsey initiatives.