A founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has sharply criticised both past and present governments for using the illegal mining menace, popularly known as "galamsey," as a campaign message only to neglect the issue once in power.

Speaking on TV3’s "Agenda" on Tuesday, July 1, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe described the ongoing galamsey crisis as a longstanding national problem that has been ignored for over two decades.

“What we are discussing now didn’t start today. It started about 25 to 30 years ago,” he stated.

He expressed deep frustration that, despite successive governments acknowledging the severe environmental devastation caused by illegal mining, none has taken decisive action to halt it.

He found it particularly troubling that politicians consistently leverage the galamsey menace as a campaign tool, only to go silent once they win power.

“Governments have come and gone. Not a single government has made the effort to stamp this out. And what surprises me is that they campaign on this, they come to power, and they don’t do anything about it,” Dr Tamakloe lamented.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe emphasised that the destruction of forests and water bodies across Ghana began decades ago and continues to worsen, labelling it a national emergency that demands immediate action.

“Any government — including the present government — should have started by putting a stop to what is going on. It’s like having a fire in your house; the first thing you do is put it out,” he added.

His remarks contribute to a growing chorus of voices urging the government to take concrete and decisive steps against illegal mining, which continues to pose a threat to Ghana’s environment, natural resources, and future sustainability.

AS/VPO

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