Mahama never promised timelines for ending galamsey – Felix Kwakye Ofosu

Deputy Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu has clarified that former President John Dramani Mahama never gave a specific timeframe for eradicating illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, September 15, he said any fair assessment of Mahama’s leadership should be based on the actual commitments he made.

“President Mahama did not put forward any deadlines for ending galamsey,” Kwakye Ofosu stated, explaining that during his recent media interaction, Mahama acknowledged the complexity of the issue and cautioned that the problem could not be resolved overnight.

He quoted the former president as saying he was under no illusion that illegal mining would vanish “with the wave of a magic wand,” given its deep-rooted nature.

Kwakye Ofosu emphasized that government efforts were ongoing, combining enforcement, regulation, and sustainable policies to address the challenge.

He also reassured Ghanaians that their concerns over the destruction of rivers, farmlands, and ecosystems were well understood by the administration.

“Government fully appreciates the genuine concerns people have expressed on galamsey, and these are not matters we take lightly,” he said, adding that fighting galamsey demands collective action beyond politics.

He urged the public to support current interventions, stressing, “The survival of our water bodies and farmlands cannot be compromised.”