The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has said that he accepts the criticisms and backlash directed at the government over its fight against illegal mining, describing them as justifiable.

Speaking in an interview with Channel One on September 16, 2025, Kwakye Ofosu stated that Ghanaians have every right to call on the government and demand action to combat the illegal mining menace.

Galamsey: President Mahama hot as bishops pile more pressure

“Let me indicate that the Catholic Bishops Conference and all other sections of the Ghanaian population who have commented on “galamsey” are right to demand action from governments,” he said.

He acknowledged the devastating effects “galamsey” has had, and continues to have on the country’s natural resources, partly blaming the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP)-led government for failing to deal with the canker.

“Indeed, ‘galamsey’ has been a major issue for the better part of 15 years now and the previous government completely failed to address it,” he decried.

The minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, reaffirming the government’s commitment and dedication to resolving the issue, said that some actions have already been taken by the government.

“… Ghanaians are right to demand action from this government. We are alive to that responsibility. Since we've been in power, we've done a number of things, so, if you want to see whether the situation has improved or it has worsened, you need to look at the hard-cold facts,” he stated.

His comments come on the back of calls by several Ghanaians and groups urging the government to take decisive action against “galamsey”, including the declaration of a state of emergency.

State of emergency demands grow as more groups pile pressure on govt over galamsey

Notable amongst the calls are those from the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, the Ghana National Catholic Laity Council, and the Coalition against “galamsey”.

MAG/VPO

Will Ghana pass the Anti-Witchcraft Bill? Find out in the latest episode of The Lowdown on GhanaWeb TV in this conversation with Amnesty International: