Akufo-Addo gov’t deserved public backlash over galamsey – Kwakye Ofosu

Government Communications Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, says the previous Akufo-Addo administration fully earned the public condemnation it faced for its poor handling of illegal mining (galamsey).

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, September 15, Kwakye Ofosu argued that the former government’s conduct eroded public trust and justified the intense criticism it attracted.

“The previous government came under fierce criticism, and they deserved every bit of it,” he said, adding that instances of “governmental complicity” in the very menace it sought to tackle were particularly disappointing.

He stressed that citizens were right to demand accountability and that leaders must inspire confidence, not suspicion.

Turning to the current administration, Kwakye Ofosu assured that President Mahama’s government acknowledges the genuine concerns about galamsey’s destructive effects on rivers, farmlands, and ecosystems.

“Government fully appreciates the genuine concerns people have expressed on galamsey, and these are not matters we take lightly,” he noted.

While admitting that the fight is not easy, he emphasised that the government remains determined to protect lives, livelihoods, and the environment. He called for collective responsibility and urged Ghanaians to support interventions while resisting political interference.

“The survival of our water bodies and farmlands cannot be compromised,” the minister stressed.