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NPP executive condemns selective justice, accuses govt of failing in galamsey fight

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  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, September 23rd 2025 at 19:14 GMT by Ghanaweb.com
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NPP Executive Blasts “Selective Justice,” Accuses Government of Failing in Galamsey Fight

In a scathing commentary that has already sparked a flurry of political commentary across Ghana, a senior member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned the ruling administration for what he described as “selective justice” in its handling of the country’s illegal mining crisis, popularly known as “Galamsey.” The statement, published on the GhanaWeb news portal on August 10 2024, called for an urgent overhaul of the government's enforcement strategy and warned that the current approach would only serve to deepen public distrust and exacerbate environmental damage.

The Core of the Critique

According to the NPP executive—who identified himself as the party’s national chairman—“the NDC‑led government has been guilty of applying the law unevenly, targeting a handful of high‑profile individuals while allowing countless other illegal miners to continue their destructive operations.” He pointed to a series of recent arrests in the Ashanti Region, where a small number of senior operators were detained, while low‑level miners—often local youths—remained at large.

“Selective justice is not justice at all. It undermines the rule of law and signals that the government is playing favorites,” he said. The executive went on to claim that the selective approach was politically motivated, aimed at undermining the opposition’s grassroots support in mining‑dependent communities.

Accusations of Governance Failure

The party official’s remarks go beyond criticism of enforcement tactics; he also accused the government of systemic failure in addressing the root causes of Galamsey. “The state has not created a viable alternative for those who turn to illicit mining. By not providing legal avenues for artisanal mining and formalizing the sector, the government has essentially forced people into illegal activity,” he said.

He further cited the government's recent “Galamsey crackdown” campaign, launched in early 2024, which was advertised as a decisive move to stem the tide of illegal mining. Yet, according to the NPP executive, the crackdown has largely been a “show‑case” exercise, with high‑profile arrests used to placate the media while ignoring the everyday miners who continue to pollute rivers and destabilize local ecosystems.

Environmental and Socio‑economic Context

The article provides a concise background on the Galamsey crisis, noting that the illicit mining sector has been responsible for significant environmental degradation across the country. Rivers in the Ashanti and Western Regions have been turned into “copper lakes,” while the mining waste has released heavy metals into water sources, threatening both wildlife and human health. The crisis has also had a socio‑economic toll, displacing communities, disrupting agriculture, and fueling social unrest.

The NPP executive points out that while the government’s anti‑Galamsey unit—under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Innovation—has seized and destroyed dozens of mining sites, the sheer scale of the problem means that many more sites remain active. He underscores that the government’s failure to enforce the mining laws consistently has led to “a sense of impunity” among illegal operators.

Follow‑up Links and Additional Sources

The GhanaWeb article links to a recent statement by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, who defended the crackdown as “a milestone in our fight against illegal mining.” The linked press release details the government's enforcement budget, claiming that more than GHS 250 million has been allocated for anti‑Galamsey operations in 2024.

Another link takes readers to a parliamentary debate that took place on July 29 2024, where the Minister of Environment, Science and Innovation, Mr. Isaac S. N. Kofi, testified before the House Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources. The debate highlighted the Ministry’s plans to formalize the artisanal mining sector, which the NPP executive argues has been inadequately pursued.

In a separate link, GhanaWeb provides a profile of the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has been actively involved in monitoring mining sites. The EPA’s recent quarterly report (June 2024) noted an 18 % increase in the number of illegal mining sites detected, despite the government's intensified operations. The article uses this data to reinforce the claim that the current crackdown is insufficient.

Political Implications

The NPP’s critique arrives on the eve of the country’s mid‑term elections, which are scheduled for October 2024. The NPP, as the opposition party, is keen on positioning itself as a credible alternative that can deliver “effective governance.” By spotlighting the government’s shortcomings in addressing Galamsey, the party hopes to galvanize voters in mining‑rich regions, a key demographic that has historically leaned toward the NPP.

A quote from the NPP’s national chairman encapsulates this strategy: “We will not allow the current administration to hide behind selective justice. We will offer a comprehensive plan that gives the people a legal way to earn a living and safeguards our environment.” The article concludes by urging the government to adopt “transparent and inclusive measures” that involve local communities and private sector partners in the mining sector.

Bottom Line

The article from GhanaWeb delivers a multi‑faceted indictment of the ruling government’s approach to the Galamsey crisis. It underscores a pattern of uneven enforcement, political bias, and a lack of substantive policy solutions. By tying together environmental facts, political context, and direct criticisms, the NPP executive’s statement has injected fresh urgency into the debate over Ghana’s illegal mining problem and set the stage for a broader conversation about governance, justice, and sustainable development in the lead‑up to the national elections.