Lands Minister Questions NPP's Credibility in Criticising Gov't Over Galamsey: "Give Us a Break"

• Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has made claims about the New Patriotic Party's role in Ghana’s illegal mining crisis
• He accused the previous government of issuing over 20,000 mining licences and leaving 'a legacy of environmental destruction'
• Buah also said that the National Democratic Congress was committed to ending galamsey and restoring Ghana’s water bodies
• Nabil Abubakar, a political analyst and a member of Action Movement for Bawumia 2028, shared his views on this in an interview with YEN.com.gh

Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has called out the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for criticising the government over its handling of the illegal mining menace in the country.

Speaking in an interview on the GTV Breakfast Show on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the Minister accused the NPP of being responsible for the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

He said before the NPP left office in 2024, they left behind a legacy of mismanagement and reckless mining licensing.

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For this reason, Armah-Kofi Buah suggested that the NPP lacked the moral authority to hold the current government to its feet in the galamsey fight.

He said the ruling National Democratic Congress government, led by President John Dramani Mahama, welcomed criticism from Ghanaians who genuinely want an end to the illegal mining menace, but certainly not the NPP, considering their record in government.

"Let me say that those who are really calling on the government to do more, we understand, we are a listening government, and we are going to do more, and we appreciate [the criticism]. But let me tell you, those we don’t even want to be talking are the political apparatchiks who have caused the damage that we are trying to solve.

"They should give us a break and give us room. These are the people who have given over 20,000 mining licences, unprecedented in the history of this country, to political operatives and opened the floodgates of our forests to be destroyed. I told you 44 out of 280 reserves have been decimated," he said.

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Watch the video below:

Armah-Kofi reiterates government's commitment to end galamsey

Armah-Kofi Buah further reiterated the government's commitment to end the galamsey menace.

He expressed his personal determination to combat illegal mining and restore Ghana’s polluted water bodies. He stated that he is committed to 'turning the waters blue' during his tenure as minister.

“I want to be remembered for adding value to the mineral resources of our country. I have just directed the mining companies to make sure they properly manage and protect our resources,” he added.

NPP activist challenges NDC over galamsey stance

Reacting the minsiter claims, Nabil Abubakar, a member of the Action Movement for Bawumia 2028, told YEN.com.gh that the Lands and Natural Resources Minister had no moral standing to accuse the NPP, given the party's history of criticising President Nana Addo's efforts against illegal mining while in opposition.

According to him, the NDC had created a perception of being a better alternative, but in reality, they had failed to deliver on their promises.

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He urged the NDC to declare a state of emergency on galamsey if they were serious about addressing the issue, as a demonstration of true commitment.

Abubakar further emphasised that the NPP, as the opposition, was playing its role by holding the government accountable.

"If they are indeed serious, they should declare a state of emergency .on galamsey and show true commitment. Ghanaians must also understand that the role of the opposition is to put pressure on the government of the day, and that is exactly what the NPP is doing, holding them accountable, but the reality is that they have failed to match their promises with real solutions," he said.

"If they are indeed serious, they should declare a state of emergency on galamsey and show true commitment. Ghanaians must also understand that the role of the opposition is to put pressure on the government of the day, and that is exactly what the NPP is doing, holding them accountable," he added.

Lands Minister's galamsey commentary sparks reactions

The Lands Minister's commentary on the government's commitments to end the galamsey menace has sparked reactions on social media.

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YEN.com.gh compiled a few of them below:

@Ing Seyram said:

"Yes. They have to, yesterday is not the same as today."

@Lawrence Kodwo Amartey also said:

"You keep asking that the Galamsey fight should not be politicized but you keep politicizing it. I don't get it."

@Michael Anarfi commented:

"After destroying it between 2012-2016, you had the temerity to call the npp out right? You guys must be on some substance really to even think this way. Wait for the real pressure."

Concerned Ghanaian urges Mahama to end galamsey

In a related development, YEN.com.gh reported that a concerned Ghanaian at the Democracy Hub's #StopGalamseyNow protest sent a passionate appeal to President John Dramani Mahama.

During the demonstration on September 22, 2025, he urged the government to declare a national war on galamsey, citing mercury contamination and birth defects now affecting communities.

Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh