A former Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress has chided President Akufo-Addo's government for his poor handling of the illegal mining menace.

Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah accused the NPP-led government of failing in the illegal mining fight, popularly referred to as a galamsey irrespective of where one looks at it.

The former Minister of Youth and Sports, in an interview with Joynews in Kumasi, insists that the unprecedented failure of the government to bring the galamsey menace under control should be enough motivation to vote the New Patriotic Party out of power.

President Akufo-Addo in July 2017 said he was prepared to put his presidency on the line in the fight against Galamsey.

“I have said it in the Cabinet and perhaps it’s the first time I would be saying it in public. I am prepared to put my presidency on the line of this matter [galamsey].”

But it’s been 7 years since the announcement from President Akufo-Addo.

Not even a series of targeted police-military anti-galamsey operations, including Operation Vanguard and Halt, among others, could help stem the tide on illegal miming.

Illegal miners continue to plunder river bodies and forest reserves despite the ban on mining in forests and river bodies.

“In fact, if there’s any single reason why we must vote out this government, I you don’t have any reason at all, the galamsey fight should be enough reason. You see, the implications are very serious,” he said.

“First of all, look for the pictures of water bodies in 2016 and compare it to the pictures of water bodies now. That’s number one. Number two; Nana Addo himself said he was ready to put his presidency on the line in the fight against galamsey. What has happened? Every single report of commission or committee that he constituted, the committees themselves come to say that their own people in government are the ones responsible.” He added.

According to Mr. Afriyie Ankrah, the negative effects of galamsey on Ghanaians are enormous as they pose critical danger to lives and the environment.

“The effect is that, Ghana Water says if we are not careful,  in the next few years, they cannot pipe water for us. That’s serious.  Medical science –data is showing that there’s an increase in skin cancer, preterm abortions and kidney diseases,  this ‘nansoaben’ and all those things. It’s a critical danger.”

Former Director of Elections for the NDC, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, wants Ghanaians to kick the NPP out of power as he accuses the Akufo-Addo government of failing Ghanaians in the galamsey fight.

“If there’s anything they could have done, they would have done it already.”

According to Mr. Afriyie-Ankrah, who is a member of the Manifesto Committee, a new NDC government will streamline mining operations in Ghana to protect forest zones and river bodies.

“No mining on waterbodies and forest reserves. That’s the first thing that has to be done. And then you streamline the whole galamsey. That’s why we say we will make sure we streamline it- registration in the district with monitoring and ensure that mining will have to be continued. We are not saying we will let people stop mining. But we are saying that it has to be done in sustainable way”  

“Mining in water bodies, forest reserves is a no, no, no”.

Meanwhile, the NDC is promoting responsible mining in the country’s mining sector.