In a bold statement that has sparked nationwide debate, Hassan Ayariga, the presidential candidate for the All Peoples Congress (APC), has pledged a significant transformation of Ghana’s economic policy.
During an interview, he declared plans to ban all private mining operations, placing complete control of the sector under government authority.
“I will ban all mining activities when I become president,” Ayariga asserted, stressing that only the state would be permitted to mine. He criticized existing mining licenses, alleging that many politicians profit from illegal activities, known as galamsey, and vowed to leverage presidential power to combat this issue.
Ayariga highlighted the mining sector’s potential to generate revenue that could reduce reliance on foreign loans, promising to terminate all foreign-held lithium and bauxite contracts if elected.
His “Ghana and Ghanaians First” approach aims to change mindsets, urging citizens to reclaim ownership of the economy and challenge the dominance of foreign businesses.
Additionally, he proposed an unprecedented one-year economic lockdown to reevaluate financial policies, followed by making Ghana’s ports free to encourage local trade.
Citing his own success story, he emphasized a future where Ghana’s economy thrives under the leadership of its citizens, signalling a dramatic shift in the country’s economic framework.
