By Rashid Obodai

Copyright rainbowradioonline

Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong has once again called on authorities to impose a moratorium on surface mining as a key measure to combat the pervasive issue of illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”

He lamented that the nation’s inability to effectively address galamsey stems from a fundamental failure to enforce existing laws against those involved.

When asked if he possesses a “magic wand” to end the menace, the aspiring presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s January 31, 2026, primary stated that the most crucial step is to enforce the law without fear or favor, even if it means cracking down on individuals within the ruling government.

“I said this before in 2022, and I will repeat it again,” Mr. Agyepong asserted. “If we feel that we cannot manage our resources, then we need to place a moratorium on surface mining. We might still be able to permit deep mining, but surface mining, which is destroying our forests, must be halted. This is purely a matter of enforcing the laws. One of the reasons we continue to see this illegal mining is our unwillingness to punish those involved. Who were those who issued the permits and allowed people to mine in forest reserves, which was against our laws at the time?”

He emphasised that individuals paid to run institutions like the Minerals Commission, various ministries, and other agencies must fulfil their duties. “Mining is about enforcing the laws, and so we must enforce them,” he stated.

Mr. Agyepong pointed out that excavators are not items that can move on their own, yet they continue to be imported into the country.

“Just recently, I heard an interesting story about excavators at our ports. Engineers and contractors are well aware that these machines are minimally used in construction, which suggests that the vast number of excavators imported into the country are being used for mining purposes. So, the question is, who are the consignees of these excavators?” he asked.

“There are many ways we can deal with this matter,” he continued. “These illegal miners are now so bold they are mining along our major highways. They are destroying our lands through mining without reclamation. Because we are not punishing people, they are emboldened to engage in lawlessness. I will have the political will to punish those involved in galamsey. The NDC keeps accusing NPP officials of engaging in galamsey, just as the NPP accuses the NDC. We keep blaming each other while our environment is being destroyed. I will have the political will to take effective action and penalise people. When punishing people, do so from the top to send a strong signal,” he concluded.

By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana