By Francis Kobena Tandoh
President John Dramani Mahama’s recent remarks on illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey’ during his September 10, 2025, Presidential Media Encounter, have sparked widespread public concern, raising questions about the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) credibility in the fight against the menace.
While Mahama insisted that declaring a state of emergency should be a “last resort” in tackling galamsey, many critics argue that his position reflects a lack of urgency and political will.
Communities ravaged by pollution of rivers, destruction of farmlands, and health risks from mercury contamination feel abandoned by what they perceive as a soft approach to a crisis threatening national survival.
Civil society groups and environmental activists have warned that Mahama’s comments risk portraying the NDC as indifferent to the devastating social and economic consequences of illegal mining. Analysts suggest that by downplaying the option of a state of emergency, the President has inadvertently eroded public trust in his party’s readiness to take bold, decisive action.
With the 2028 elections on the horizon, the NDC faces the challenge of convincing Ghanaians that it can confront galamsey with more seriousness than its critics believe. Unless the government clarifies its strategy, the issue could become a defining test of Mahama’s leadership and the NDC’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s environment. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
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