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Kwaku Asante-Boateng, Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim South, has raised concerns that the government’s hesitation to tackle illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, may be driven by fears of losing the upcoming December 7 elections.
Asante-Boateng pointed out that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) strong stance against galamsey in 2020 led to the party’s losses in several mining communities. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, October 2, the MP suggested that this past experience has made the government wary of imposing a complete ban on mining, as it could negatively impact their electoral prospects.
He defended the government’s caution, noting that fear of losing votes is a common concern in politics, especially in regions heavily affected by galamsey. “We took action before the 2020 elections, and we lost all our parliamentary seats in the mining communities where we tried to enforce controls,” he recalled.
Asante-Boateng explained that, with the NPP aiming to “break the 8” and secure a third consecutive term in power, the current administration may be reluctant to impose a ban on mining activities, fearing it could cost them politically. “The fear of losing power is delaying the ban, and this concern could affect any political party,” he added.
Source:Omanghana.com
