The decision of Former President John Dramani Mahama to pardon the incarcerated illegal miners otherwise called galamsey if he wins the upcoming crucial election has generated some debate among Ghanaians and especially members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The NPP and their surrogates have condemned the former president’s position, describing it as an abetment, encouragement and facilitation of the illegal mining. The question is, is Mr. Mahama’s decision right or not?

In my honest and candid view, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is absolutely right in his intention to grant pardon to these people who I call “victims of galamsey”, if he wins the 2024 elections, because that is exactly what they are.

Those who were jailed, were only exploited by some greedy, unscrupulous and heartless political actors within this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government. They put them in inhumane and unsafe working conditions with meagre rewards, yet when the law decided to strike, it only targeted these poor vulnerable victims of this poor system.

They are victims of poor leadership, economic mismanagement and poor system who were exploited by the same people who created the mess. How then do they deserve to be punished whiles the actual financiers and beneficiaries of galamsey are left scot free? This is injustice, it is a travesty of justice and completely against the rules of natural justice.

They are unemployed youth who cannot afford a three square daily meal, how on earth can they afford manning equipment to engage in illegal mining? They are desperate and hungry people whose vulnerabilities were seen as an advantage by the officials of the current government.

The fact of the matter is that, despite vowing to put his presidency on the line as far as galamsey is concerned, President Akufo-Addo has actually upgraded the act which was hitherto being perpetrated by unemployed youths to “state sponsored illegal mining” largely sponsored by ministers MPs, MCEs, DCEs and NPP party executives.

For the first time in the history of this country, a sitting president is alleged to be a key beneficiary of the activities of illegal mining, no wonder there is little or no political will to address the menace, beyond the usual rhetoric.

It has been alleged that, the Ashanti Regional chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Bosiako (Wontumi), Former General Secretary, John Boadu, National Women’s organiser, the Mayor of Kumasi Metropolis, Sam Pyne all of NPP are engaged in illegal mining, but why are they not in prison, but rather, we are making example of the innocent vulnerable “small fishes”.

I therefore, see absolutely nothing wrong if the former president grant pardon to these “victims of galamsey” and look for the wicked, heartless greedy and inconsiderate politicians who are not enriching themselves by destroying our environment, river bodies but also our teeming youth. John Mahama deserves applaud for this initiative.