Alan Kyerematen, founder of the Movement for Change, has criticised both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for their failure to adequately address the issue of illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

He argued that both major political parties lacked the political will to implement long-term solutions to end the destructive practice.

During an investor forum held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra on Wednesday, September 18, Mr Kyerematen stressed the need for new leadership that is ready to confront the galamsey crisis head-on.

He emphasised that the persistent environmental degradation caused by illegal mining has been left unchecked for too long, with devastating consequences for the country’s natural resources.

Mr Kyerematen, who previously served as Trade and Industry Minister, highlighted the extensive damage galamsey has done to Ghana's water bodies, farmlands, and forests.

He stated that without decisive action, the country could face irreversible ecological damage that would hinder economic development for future generations.

Calling galamsey an "existential threat" to the nation, Mr Kyerematen urged stakeholders to demand accountability from political leaders and push for robust measures to combat the illegal mining menace.

He expressed disappointment that previous efforts by both the NPP and NDC had not yielded significant results, underscoring the need for a fresh approach.

He reiterated his commitment to driving change in Ghana, not only by tackling galamsey but by addressing other pressing national challenges with transparency and decisive leadership.

He encouraged Ghanaians to support new leadership that prioritises long-term solutions over short-term political gains.

“The two parties have failed to deal substantively with galamsey and this is an existential effect and I don’t think that we need, as Ghanaians to take this lightly."

“It is time for us to bring into leadership new leaders who have the capacity and the political will to deal with the problem, but that is where the challenge is,” he stated.