President Nana Akufo-Addo recently reflected on the challenges faced during his second term in office, attributing much of the difficulties to his unwavering commitment to combat illegal mining, also known as ‘galamsey’. In his final ‘State of the Nation Address’, the President acknowledged the impact this stance had on his presidency, particularly in the loss of parliamentary seats in mining areas, resulting in a hung parliament and hindering policy implementation.
Akufo-Addo boldly stated, “The fight against galamsey led directly to the loss by my party of several parliamentary seats in the 2020 election and to the makeup of this 8th Parliament, which affected the implementation of my policy agenda and impacted the second term of my presidency.” Despite the challenges faced, the President welcomed the newfound support for the fight against illegal mining, emphasizing the importance of protecting the country’s lands and water bodies.
While defending his administration’s actions, Akufo-Addo highlighted the progressive policies implemented in the mining, forestry, and land sectors, emphasizing that the fight against illegal mining was not intended to halt resource extraction. He proudly shared, “As a result of these policies, we overtook South Africa as the leading producer of gold on the continent and have consistently increased gold production to reach an unprecedented 4 million ounces last year.”
Furthermore, the President mentioned the successful revival of dormant mines such as Obuasi and Bibiani, as well as the establishment of the Cardinal Namdini mine, marking a significant milestone in the country’s mining sector. Additionally, he noted the achievements in reforestation efforts, citing the cultivation of 121,000 hectares of degraded forests and the planting of over 52 million trees under the Green Ghana Project.
Addressing the issue of chieftaincy disputes, Akufo-Addo stressed the importance of strengthening key government institutions such as the Chieftaincy Ministry and the National Peace Council to promote peace and stability in the country. Despite the challenges faced during his second term, the President remains optimistic about the future and the potential for continued progress and development in Ghana.
