The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has criticized the National Democratic Congress's (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, for his promise to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address the issue of illegal mining, known as galamsey.

Ahiagbah argues that Mahama's pledge is merely a tactic to sway Ghanaian voters in the upcoming 2024 general elections rather than a sincere commitment to taking action.

He claimed that during Mahama's presidency, both he and certain appointees encouraged galamsey in various forms and also profited from it, which raises doubts about the party's credibility.

"The NDC are promoters of galamsey. Therefore, H.E. Mahama's promise to use A.I. powered plan to combat galamsey is a vote-seeking gimmick. Galamsey is an existential problem that requires inputs from all strata of society to combat. Resolving the galamsey menace is impossible with H.E John Mahama and the NDC because they are promoters and beneficiaries of galamsey. Pls refer to the evidence below:

"The widely publicized 2020 video of Kwaku Boahen, then Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC, promising a golden age of galamsey to voters in mining communities across the country. H.E. Mahama promised to free galamsey convicts in 2020 at a campaign event at Mpohor and has repeated the same promise following his selection as the flagbearer of the NDC for the 2024 presidential election. A solution to the fight against galamsey is impossible with Mahama & the NDC," he wrote on X.

However, Ahiagbah encouraged Ghanaians to cast votes for NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, whom he believes has effective strategies to combat galamsey.

"Vote Bawumia for a bold solution to the galamsey menace. It's possible."

His comments were made in response to Mahama's commitment to using technology in the fight against illegal mining.

The NDC flagbearer outlined his plan to use A.I. to monitor galamsey activities and combat the issue.

"We will introduce and encourage technological innovation to improve capacity for coordinated monitoring of the small-scale mining sector and reduce environmental impact.

"This will include using AI to locate all small-scale mining and galamsey operations, track excavators, and geo-fence all concessions to ensure mining operations are not conducted in unapproved areas, including water bodies," myjoyonline.com quoted him to have said.

Read the post below:

The NDC are promoters of glamsey. Therefore, H.E Mahama's promise to use AI powered plan to combat galamsey is a vote-seeking gimmick. Galamsy is an existential problem that requires inputs from all strata of society to combat. Resolving the galamsey manace is impossible with… pic.twitter.com/78v4GwF8Pm

— Richard Ahiagbah (@RAahiagbah) May 16, 2024