The NPP flagbearer for election 2024, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has declared a significant shift in the government's approach to dealing with illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey.

In a gathering of enthusiastic NPP supporters during a health walk in Kwahu in the Eastern Region, on Saturday, March 30, Dr. Bawumia announced that confiscated excavators would no longer be subject to burning under his administration.

Despite applauding the NPP's efforts in combating galamsey over the past seven years, he acknowledged the need for a new strategy to address the canker effectively.

If elected, Dr Bawumia pledged to implement a revamped approach aimed at curbing illegal mining while preserving seized equipment, particularly excavators.

“We are going to help small-scale miners; we will introduce a mineral development bank to get money for them. There is a new regime for small-scale miners, we will not burn your seized excavators,” he said.

Additionally, he underscored that the current NPP administration, under President Akufo-Addo's leadership, has surpassed the previous Mahama government in every facet of the economy.

“Jobs, we have performed better, agricultural growth, we have performed better, Zongo development, we have performed better, roads, we have performed better, airports, we have performed better, interchanges, we have performed better,” he noted.