Akufo-Addo Govt approved galamsey that ravaged forests, water bodies – Gbande

Mustapha Gbande, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, criticized the Akufo-Addo administration. He accused it of allowing severe damage to Ghana’s forests and water bodies. This destruction resulted from careless mining leases and regulatory failures.

On Citi Eyewitness News, he stated that over 2,000 mining leases were granted without oversight. This led to significant environmental harm. Gbande claimed that President Akufo-Addo and his Minister for Lands approved this degradation.

He pointed out that key institutions failed to regulate mining activities. The Minerals Commission, EPA, and Ministry of Lands did not monitor operations effectively under Akufo-Addo's leadership. “You have a responsibility through these institutions to supervise the mining activity—they couldn’t do that,” he emphasized.

Gbande compared this inaction with the current administration's efforts. He praised President John Dramani Mahama for aggressively tackling illegal mining in just four months. “If we have come, and within four months you have seen the aggression... then it tells you who’s serious about saving Ghana’s environment,” he said.