Mahama gov’t repeating Akufo-Addo-era mistakes in galamsey fight – Erastus Asare Donkor

Investigative and Environmental Journalist at the Multimedia Group Limited, Erastus Asare Donkor, says the John Mahama administration is repeating many of the approaches used by the previous Akufo-Addo government in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. According to him, the government’s response has not been sufficiently different or forceful to match the scale of environmental destruction, despite some progress made by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS). Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, October 31, during a discussion on the Mahama administration’s fight against galamsey, Mr Asare Donkor said the country appeared to be repeating past mistakes rather than adopting a more effective strategy.

Asked how the current government’s approach compared with the initial stages of the eight-year Akufo-Addo administration, he said, “Basically, we are doing the same thing, aside from the strategy that maybe NAIMOS may be adopting now under the current leadership. That may be slightly different. ” He said that although the previous administration failed to give the problem the attention it deserved, the current government was also not matching its public statements with action. “The previous administration treated this issue with kid gloves. They did not listen to anybody. The current administration, though they listen, they act differently, contrary to what they say,” he stated. Mr Asare Donkor said a government genuinely committed to ending illegal mining must deploy all the resources available to it, including personnel, equipment, logistics and funding. Using the military analogy, he explained that defeating an enemy required a well-resourced strategy informed by a proper understanding of the threat. “In the…