Galamsey has been a long fight – Gabby states as he shares 1955 Legislative Assembly Debate

Cousin to President Akufo-Addo, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko

Cousin to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has asserted that the fight against illegal mining and its impact in Ghana is one that has been longstanding in the nation’s history.

A position shared by many pro-government persons, it is an argument usually made to support claims that illegal mining is an issue of old and did not come up only under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration.

In an X post dated November 8, 2024, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko shared a front-page picture of Ghana’s Legislative Assembly debate dated Monday, February 28, 1955, which listed “Pollution of Drinking Water By Mining Companies” as one of the key issues debated by the House.

“Galamsey in 1955. It has been a long fight…” the president’s cousin captioned his post.

Popularly known as galamsey, illegal mining activities have led to the destruction of several water bodies and forest reserves across the country.

The recent upsurge in public demand for government action against the canker has been met with criticism from pro-government quarters who sought to question the objectivity and timing of the campaign.

Pro-government persons, including members of the ruling New Patriotic Party, have accused stop galamsey protesters of being influenced by political motives.

Others have also questioned the timing of the campaign, alluding that the recent criticism against galamsey is rather meant to make the ruling party unpopular considering the timing – a few months to a general election.

According to the National Women’s Organiser of the NPP, Kate Gyamfua, the effects of illegal mining activities, particularly the pollution of water bodies, did not start recently, making the protest timing questionable, given its proximity to the pending elections.

In an interview on Adom FM and monitored by GhanaWeb on Friday, October 4, 2024, she stated, "We are left with barely two months to the elections. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2020 lost votes in all galamsey communities. So, at this moment, do you want him to go back and burn excavators of the miners? They should wait; after the elections, we will all protest over illegal mining activities. Were the water bodies polluted this month?"

She suggested that after the pending elections, both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and NPP could unite to protest over the illegal mining menace, popularly known as galamsey.

Kate Gyamfua further criticised the public for not supporting the government’s fight against galamsey.