Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Vice-Presidential Candidate, has urged political parties, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to show their commitment to ending illegal mining (galamsey) by signing a “binding national anti-galamsey pact.”
He called for religious leaders, especially the church, to spearhead stakeholder engagement in drafting the pact, which would establish a comprehensive roadmap to address the environmental and public health threats posed by galamsey.
Speaking at the 13th Biennial Delegates Conference of the Association of Methodist Men’s Fellowship at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on September 14, 2024, Dr.
Prempeh emphasized the importance of political consensus on this issue, especially with the upcoming elections on December 7.
He questioned former President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to fighting illegal mining, citing previous instances where NDC officials allegedly supported illegal miners and Mahama’s 2020 campaign promise to grant amnesty to imprisoned miners.
Dr. Prempeh reaffirmed that the NPP, under the leadership of Dr. Bawumia and himself, is ready to sign the anti-galamsey pact to solidify their dedication to addressing illegal mining.
He referenced the NPP’s 2024 manifesto, which includes a comprehensive strategy for promoting responsible small-scale mining and protecting Ghana’s environment.
He further challenged the NDC to present its own plan for tackling galamsey and join the pact, calling for a focus on long-term national interests rather than short-term political gains.
