Charles Adongo Bawaduah, Member of Parliament for Bongo, has cautioned against politicising the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey, saying it impedes effective solutions.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Saturday, January 25, on Channel One TV, he discussed the tragic clash at the AngloGold Ashanti Mine on January 18, 2025, where seven lives were lost after a group of 60 illegal miners breached the mine’s security fence.
“Politicising it will make it difficult to handle because anything you put politics into becomes NDC versus NPP, and you fail to address it as a national issue,” Bawaduah said.
He criticized statements from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) accusing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of orchestrating the incident, describing such claims as baseless and counterproductive.
“There is no evidence whatsoever to support the allegations that the NDC was behind this. Such conjectures don’t help in resolving security issues. We should view this as a national problem and work together to develop solutions,” he emphasized.
He acknowledged the role galamsey plays in the livelihoods of many Ghanaians, despite its illegality. “Gold and galamsey, for that matter, have supported many youths and families. Some have used it to pay school fees, build houses, and sustain their livelihoods. The reality is, without jobs, they won’t stop.”
He urged the government to implement structured procedures to allow individuals to engage in mining legally.
“The best way to address this issue is to create a system that enables legal participation in mining activities. This will help manage the situation while providing opportunities for the youth,” he concluded.
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