Communications Minister says President John Mahama could have done more to tackle illegal mining, aka galamsey, but insists his commitment to the fight is far stronger than what Ghanaians witnessed under the Akufo-Addo administration.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Sam Nartey George defended his long-held position that galamsey can be crushed if there is real political will.
“Absolutely,” he said when asked if he still stood by his statement that President Akufo-Addo, as Commander-in-Chief, could have ended galamsey in a week.
“That was seven years, nine months into the Nana Akufo-Addo administration. After multiple anti-galamsey task forces and millions of cedis spent, it was fair to demand action. We didn’t see it.”
The Ningo Prampram MP argued that the same standard applies to President Mahama, who has been in office for nine months.
“Do I wish I had seen more? Absolutely. I wish it ended today,” he admitted. “But in the nine months, I can confidently say that I see a desire and a will to deal with galamsey that didn’t exist in the previous eight years.”
According to him, President Mahama has already demonstrated political courage by allowing investigations into two of his own party executives accused of illegal mining.
“Under the previous president, a regional chairman openly told a minister that they must engage in galamsey because the party needed money. The president went on to campaign for that individual. That was tacit endorsement,” he said.
Sam George highlighted recent successes under President Mahama, including military operations that recovered seven out of nine forest reserves where mining had been ongoing.
He also pointed to a major stakeholder meeting slated for October 3, where more than 30 civil society organisations will meet the president to develop a national roadmap.
Still, he believes President Mahama must go further.
“A lot more could be done in terms of enforcement. We could move faster,” he stressed.
“The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has started fantastically well, but we must not rest on our laurels. We should go all out and win this war, if not for anything, in memory of the eight gallant sons who died in the helicopter crash.”
Responding to claims that he once called for a state of emergency in galamsey-hit areas, Sam George was emphatic: “I have never, ever called for a state of emergency.”
Instead, he advocates targeted and sustained military operations.
“Galamsey remains the biggest existential threat to our nation. It is Ghana’s version of Colombia’s drug cartels. Our armed forces are capable of launching surgical operations to win this war,” he maintained.
For Sam George, the difference between Mahama and his predecessor lies in sincerity.
“Have we fixed it? Not yet. But I am confident that before the expiration of President Mahama’s term, we will be in a better place,” he said.
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