Founder and leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Akwasi Addae Odike, has cast doubt on the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) ability to end illegal mining, also known as galamsey in Ghana.

Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Odike argued that the NDC, like the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is driven by self-interest and would ultimately fail to tackle the menace.

“NDC cannot stop galamsey. Their mindset is to come and score political points against the previous NPP government while benefiting from the same illegal mining. Our problem in Ghana is cyclical—NPP and NDC have realised that Ghanaians only lament but still vote for them,” he stated.

He warned of environmental consequences, blaming weak governance for the destruction of water bodies and calling for a total ban on surface mining.

“We are still experiencing a colonial mindset, perpetuated by our own people. The activities of some Chinese individuals are damaging our water bodies. We are fighting against nature in this country, and nature will eventually fight back.

“If we continue down this path, there will come a time when we cannot access clean water. There should be a complete ban on all forms of surface mining. All those who claim to have licenses should present their documents for auditing, including multinational companies.

“We must also reclaim destroyed lands, restore them, and plant crops that will benefit the country. As a nation, we need to come together and determine the best approach to stop galamsey,” he added.