The National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Communication Officer has accused President Akufo-Addo of faking his efforts to combat illegal mining in the country.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Sammy Gyamfi said that the President’s fight against 'galamsey' is a “complete 419 scam”.

This according to him, is because “the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government has not exhibited any genuine commitment to the fight against 'galamsey'. And that their so-called fight against 'galamsey' is nothing but a scam.”

This comes after President Akufo-Addo, while addressing a forum against illegal mining organised chiefly to get Ghana’s Chiefs involved in the fight against illegal mining in 2017, declared that he has put his presidency on the line to fight 'galamsey'.

During his meeting with the leadership of the National House of Chiefs and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on Wednesday, President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed his commitment noting that he was being truthful when he made that proclamation in 2017.

However, the National Communication Officer of the NDC believes otherwise.

According to Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, it has been “clear to us from day one that behind the façade of the so-called 'galamsey' fight of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, is a well-crafted ruse designed to appropriate the illicit 'galamsey' trade for NPP apparatchiks and higher-ups in the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government and their foreign collaborators.”

He stated that the NDC has “got the clearest confirmation from countless instances of state-backed complicity, active participation and sometimes clear aiding and abetment of the illegal mining activities not only by officials of the NPP, but by some of the very men and women in the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government entrusted with the responsibility of protecting our environment.”

He went on to say that his accusation can be evident in the following points he raised;

1. Missing Excavators, vehicles, gold, weapons among others.

2. Anas’ “Galamsey Fraud” Documentary

3. The involvement of MMDCEs in “galamsey”.

4. Compromised Operation Vanguard, Operation Galamstop and Operation Halt after $3 Million spent on drones.

5. Chairman Wontumi and activities of his Akonta Mining Limited in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.

6. The Aisha Huang Debacle

Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo has conceded that his government has not succeeded in the fight against illegal mining in the country.

He stated that the fight against the canker will continue because he has not yet succeeded.

“Since I took office on 7^th January, 2017, nearly 6 years ago, I have made it the central feature of my presidency to lead in the efforts to rid our country of this menace which we all now call ‘galamsey’.

“Indeed, it was an important aspect of my inaugural address of that day. It has not been easy, it has not been popular, but we have not got the immediate result that I was looking for,” he said.