Galamsey fight is a lost battle – Former Ablekuma Central MP

Former Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central, Ebenezer Gilbert Nii Narh Nartey, has expressed strong doubts about the government’s ability to tackle illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.

He described the fight as ineffective and a complete waste of national effort.

Speaking on Monday, June 23, 2025, Nii Narh Nartey questioned the seriousness of political leaders in dealing with the issue.

He believes there is a clear lack of political will from both the government and opposition parties to make any meaningful impact.

“We should stop talking about it; we are wasting our time and energy because we can’t fight galamsey,” he stated during the interview.

The former MP criticised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for failing to live up to its campaign promise of ending galamsey swiftly.

According to him, the party pledged to eliminate the illegal mining practice within a week of assuming office, a promise that remains unfulfilled.

He also questioned the follow-through on plans to offer alternative employment to people involved in galamsey, which was a key part of the NDC’s campaign.

“The energy with which the NDC spoke against galamsey before the elections has completely changed. What happened to their promise of providing alternative jobs to galamsey operators?” he asked.

Nii Narh Nartey challenged President John Mahama to take bold, concrete steps if he truly intends to address the galamsey issue. He suggested that declaring a state of emergency would have shown real commitment.

His remarks add to a growing national conversation about the ongoing environmental damage and policy failures surrounding illegal mining in Ghana.