Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Special Aide to former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has accused President John Mahama of being an enabler of illegal mining in the country.

In comments on the country’s ongoing battle against the menace, Mr Aboagye argued that the President did little during his previous administration to curb the practice.

"The President John Dramani Mahama, His Excellency, is the biggest enabler of galamsey in this country and predates now. First of all, he lied when he said that in the last eight years, things have escalated," he said on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, September 13.

"In 2013 under H.E John Dramani Mahama galamsey in our forest reserves and water bodies actually became endemic and that was what led him to set up a task force which was led by Honorable Fuseini....."

"They (John Mahama led administration) create an impression in the minds of the populace as if galamsey as we are seeing it today is an Akufo-Addo thing," he argued.

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Mr. Aboagye's remarks follow Mr Mahama’s recent statement that his government would not rush into declaring a state of emergency in addressing illegal mining, insisting that such a measure should be a last resort.

Read also: Mahama rules out state of emergency in galamsey fight

The comment has since drawn sharp criticism, particularly from opposition figures.