Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has accused John Dramani Mahama’s administration of neglecting the battle against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
He stated that the degradation of forest reserves and the pollution of significant water bodies have intensified under the current government, raising doubts about its dedication to addressing this issue.
Illegal mining, often referred to as galamsey, has long presented severe environmental challenges in Ghana, including the destruction of forest reserves and the contamination of rivers that are vital sources of drinking water.
Despite the current administration’s attempts to combat this issue, galamsey continues to thrive.
In an interview on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Mr. Nitiwul asserted that the situation has worsened considerably.
“No, no, that is worse off. Completely worse off. Everybody knows it’s worse off,” he remarked. “We’ve depleted a lot of our team. Last year, what happened on the field was bad. It’s worse off.”
He also claimed that the government has effectively abandoned its efforts to control illegal mining. “I think the government has given up. That’s why nobody’s talking about it any longer. They’ve just given up. That’s basically what it is,” he concluded.
