Harry Yamson, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Spokesperson on Agriculture, has highlighted the party’s strong stance on addressing the issue of illegal mining, known locally as galamsey in the party’s manifesto.
During an appearance on “The Big Issue” on Channel One TV, Yamson highlighted that the NDC’s manifesto includes a comprehensive plan aimed at regulating small-scale mining operations, which have long been a challenge in Ghana.
According to Yamson, the party’s flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has proposed the establishment of a dedicated board to oversee the sector. This initiative is designed to bring much-needed structure to small-scale mining, reducing the negative impact of unregulated activities on the environment and, crucially, on cocoa production. The proposal emphasizes creating a formalized framework to transform the sector, which has evolved into a significant economic force within the country.
Comments from National Democratic Congress (NDC) Spokesperson on Agriculture, Harry Yamson on Galamsey
There was a very significant statement that our flagbearer made and I think he introduced the idea of a golf board that will encourage our small-scale miners to act within a structured framework so that we will reduce this unregulated, illegal mining that has become the being of cocoa. I think it is an important idea that we need to think about.
Whether it is the board or minerals commission, ultimately what we are saying is that we have to find a way to formalise this sector, and bring people under some control. Because it has become an economy on its own.
We cannot bury our heads in the sand and say that it is not there. But the thing is, how do you stop its worst effect? So, there is a proposal on the table to formalise this and put them within a framework that allows us to better manage it. The NDC has not been silent. We have decided to take the bull by the horns and accept that it is a problem, he remarked.
