By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Member of the National Communications Team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hamza Suhuyini, has defended his party’s record in the fight against illegal mining, insisting that the current NDC government under President John Dramani Mahama made more sustainable gains compared to the previous government the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
Speaking on GBC’s Current Agenda, Suhuyini said the NDC government approached the problem with a mix of regulatory measures, community engagement, and livelihood interventions that showed clearer political commitment.
He cited the Alternative Livelihood Programme, launched under the Mahama administration, which provided opportunities for young people who might otherwise have turned to illegal mining. According to him, the initiative gave many youth a chance to contribute meaningfully to society without destroying water bodies and forest reserves.
Suhuyini also pointed to measures introduced by the NDC to regulate the use of excavators, including a tracking system for all imported excavators to ensure they were not diverted into illegal mining activities. He said these interventions helped restore parts of Ghana’s forest reserves and water bodies, which had previously been degraded.
“Because of the NDC’s commitment, we were able to reclaim some reserves and retrieve rivers that were in the hands of illegal miners. That is a visible achievement,” Suhuyini said.
He contrasted this with the previous NPP government’s handling of the galamsey crisis, which he described as riddled with inconsistencies, weak enforcement, and allegations of complicity at the highest levels of government.
> “Under the previous government, we have seen excavators seized and yet unaccounted for. There have been daily allegations of complicity involving people close to power. This undermines the credibility of the fight,” he noted.
Suhuyini argued that the NDC’s achievements in regulating the sector, restoring degraded environments, and ensuring accountability placed it ahead of the NPP in terms of delivering sustainable results in the fight against illegal mining.
He concluded by stressing that any government serious about winning the galamsey war must demonstrate political will, back it with transparent policies, and remain accountable to the people.
