Galamsey: NPP’s Paul Yandoh Visits Agona Kwanyako to Beg Mahama to Declare State of Emergency
- Paul Kwabena Yandoh has visited the Agona Kwanyako Headworks plant to voice out his concerns over the widespread illegal mining activities
- In a video, the popular NPP official launched an emotional appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to take decisive action against the problem
- Paul Kwabena Yandoh also raised concerns about the well-being of various communities following the shutdown of the Kwanyako Headworks plant
- YEN.com.gh spoke with Nabil Abubakar, an NPP youth activist and member of the Active Movement for Bawumia 2028, on Paul Yandoh's call for the President to take drastic action against the Galamsey problem
Paul Kwabena Yandoh, the Ashanti Regional Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has emotionally appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to fight against the rampant illegal mining (Galamsey) in Ghana.
Source: TikTok
On Sunday, September 21, 2025, the controversial politician visited Agona Kwanyako in the Central Region to hold a press conference to express his displeasure with the state of the water bodies due to illegal mining.
Addressing the media at the Kwanyako Headworks, a Water Treatment Plant, Paul Kwabena Yandoh knelt and pleaded with President John Dramani Mahama to urgently address the galamsey situation.
He explained that illegal mining activities have severely affected the treatment plant, making the water supply a major challenge for the residents in the community.
The NPP Ashanti Regional Communications Director noted that the actions of illegal miners had made the water bodies in the Agona Kwanyako community detrimental to the well-being of its residents.
Paul Kwabena Yandoh also called on President John Dramani Mahama to deliver on the National Democratic Congress's campaign promises to declare a state of emergency to curb illegal mining practices in Ghana and halt the pollution of the lands and water bodies.
The politician has become the latest prominent voice in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to call on the president to take drastic action against the illegal mining canker in Ghana, which has seen several forest reserves and water bodies facing severe destruction.
NPP activist speaks on Yandoh's Galamsey appeal
In an interview with YEN.com.gh, Nabil Abubakar, an NPP youth activist and member of the Active Movement for Bawumia 2028, explained how politically strategic it was for the opposition party to directly appeal to an NDC president on a national crisis like galamsey.
He said:
"The decision by Paul Yandoh and Dennis Miracles to hold a press conference at Kwanyako, directly calling on President Mahama to take drastic action against galamsey, is politically strategic for several reasons."
"First, it highlights the urgency of the crisis by placing responsibility squarely on the sitting government, which has the constitutional mandate to act."
"Second, it demonstrates that the NPP is not only an opposition party but also a responsible national stakeholder willing to raise alarms when the country’s future is at risk."
"Honestly, I think they are pressuring the government, and the NPP has every moral right to do so. This is not about political equalisation but about consistency: just as the NDC criticized NPP governments in the past over similar issues, it is only fair that the NPP now holds the NDC administration accountable.
"The lives of Ghanaians, the integrity of our water bodies, and the sustainability of our economy go beyond partisan politics."
Nabil Abubakar also shared his thoughts on whether the NPP can put aside its issues with the NDC and collectively work together to end the Galamsey crisis.
He said:
"The bigger question is whether the NPP and NDC can put aside their long-standing rivalry to work collectively on this national emergency."
"The truth is, the NPP must be ready—and indeed has the moral obligation—to cooperate on bipartisan solutions, because galamsey is not a problem that can be solved through blame games alone."
"Strategic collaboration would not weaken political competition but rather elevate both parties as forces committed to the survival and prosperity of Ghana."
The video of Paul Kwabena Yandoh begging President John Dramani Mahama at the Kwanyako Water Treatment Plant is below:
GWL shuts down Kwanyako Headworks
Paul Kwabenya Yandoh's emotional appeal to President John Dramani Mahama comes days after Ghana Water Limited shut down the Kwanyako Headworks plant.
Reports indicated that the water treatment plant was closed after the intake pumps broke down due to heavy silt accumulation caused by the dangerous activities of illegal miners in the Eastern Region.
Source: Facebook
According to officials, the Kwanyako Headworks plant faced heavy challenges due to the heavy silting of the Ayensu River.
The news of the plant's shutdown ignited fears of a water shortage in the Central Region of Ghana. Residents of affected communities are said to be relying on unsafe water sources.
GWL shuts down Bonsa Headworks over Galamsey
Earlier this year, Ghana Water Limited also shut down the Bonsa Headworks due to the severe impact of illegal mining activities on the Bonsa River.
The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region dealt with a water shortage in March due to the shutdown.
Before its shutdown, the Bonsa Headworks supplied the Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality in the Western Region with 75% of its potable water needs.
GMA threatens the NDC government over Galamsey
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) threatened to vote out the NDC government in future elections over their contribution to the fight against Galamsey.
In an interview, the president of the association, Dr Frank Serebour, called out the government for failing to deal with the growing illegal mining problem despite past promises.
The President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) also detailed serious actions his outfit intended to take to hold the government accountable in its effort to fight the Galamsey problem.
Source: YEN.com.gh
