National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, says the Akufo-Addo-led administration’s efforts to tackle illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, were unfairly weaponised and used against the government for political gain.

Speaking on the maiden edition of Prime Insight on Joy Prime on Saturday, August 16, Mr Mustapha described galamsey as a deep-rooted problem that existed long before today’s politics.

“I dare say the fight against galamsey has proven quite a very stubborn one that has unfortunately plunged the nation into grief beyond all the shenanigans and the politics. It didn’t start now. This menace has been around for a very long time,” he said.

He warned that reducing the issue to “political football” only worsens the situation and distracts from real solutions.

“If we were to pick it on that basis, we would have dealt with it well, but to reduce it to politics and weaponise it like they did in the last elections against the NPP speaks volumes. It was weaponised through demonstrations and slogans, with hands placed on the neck of former President Akufo-Addo,” he said.

He compared the fight against galamsey to America’s decades-long battle with drug cartels, stressing that both involve powerful interests beyond the control of politicians.

“These are enterprises controlled by cartels, powerful blocs and people who don’t care about politicians or politics. Their interest is in wealth, influence and money,” he added.

When asked whether former president Akufo-Addo set himself up for criticism by publicly vowing to put his presidency on the line to fight galamsey, Mr Mustapha admitted that leadership must be held accountable, but insisted the NPP paid a heavy political price for its efforts.

“Because of the fight, in the 2020 elections, we lost 19 seats on the mining radar and virtually all the mining constituencies except for a few around Obuasi and Akwatia.

"You would not believe that NPP lost a seat like Akrofuom in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region. The ramifications are dire, and the weaponisation of it is what has made it so,” he said.