The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) has criticised the Mahama administration for allocating US$279 million to the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) for gold purchases, while failing to commit any funds to land or river reclamation efforts.

The group said the decision prioritises revenue over restoration, describing it as a “deliberate policy choice” that endangers Ghana’s environment.

In its statement, CDM said the lack of funding for environmental recovery reveals the true intent of the administration.

“Promises without funding are lies. And the budget has revealed the truth,” it stated.

The group accused the government of moral bankruptcy, asserting that a state-funded gold agency cannot operate “in a moral vacuum” while the mining sector continues to destroy the environment unchecked.

“This is a cruel irony,” CDM noted. “A body set up to benefit from mining cannot ignore the environmental carnage it feeds on.

The failure to pair gold procurement with reclamation funding is unjust and unacceptable.” It added that the administration had lost the moral right to speak on environmental protection.

As part of its demands, the CDM called for public disclosure of illegal mining concessions, a nationwide moratorium on mining in water bodies, and a parliamentary inquiry into the government’s galamsey handling.

“If President Mahama cannot take action to save our rivers, then he is no different from those destroying them,” the group declared.