A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto Committee, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has assured Ghanaians that no member of the party would attempt to engage in illegal mining operations.

According to the former Minister for Youth and Sports, the party is committed to protecting the country’s ecosystem, especially forests and water bodies from destruction.

As such, he warned all members of the party who have intentions of engaging in illegal mining to rethink their decision since it will not be tolerated by the NDC administration.

"We need to suspend all galamsey activities for at least one year to give our water bodies and forest reserves breathing space to recover. I investigated the GYEEDA Scandal with an independent body and I can promise that any member of my party who engages in galamsey will be investigated and prosecuted," he told Nana Kwadwo Jantuah on Nhyira FM on Thursday.

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Elvis Afriyie Ankrah alluded to the fact that galamsey activities have been an age-long practice but the impact has worsened during the current administration.

He attributed the government's lack of commitment to fighting illegal mining to a deliberate and organised scheme to destroy the forests.

"Nana Addo's government over the past eight years has failed to sufficiently combat this galamsey menace because it is a deliberate and organised scheme to make it worse. He refused to act on several reports on illegal mining; an example is that of Professor Frimpong Boateng.

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"The president ignored all the reports because a lot of his appointees are reported to have been involved in the illegality," he said.

He explained that illegal mining is enough reason to vote against the NPP since they have failed to end the canker despite countless promises made.

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"Any Ghanaian who has no reason to vote against this government should look at galamsey which is a threat to their livelihood," he stated.