You're Not Serious...How Can You Send "Old Men & Women Wearing Adidas" To Fight Heavily Armed Illegal Miners - Mahama, Armah Buah Slammed

Ellen Daaku, a member of the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Communication team, has raised concerns about the commitment of former President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, in tackling illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, particularly in Ghana's water bodies.

Speaking during a panel discussion on Peace FM's Kokrokoo, Daaku criticized the government’s approach, especially after the launch of the Blue Water Initiative, which seeks to train 2,000 individuals across the country to protect valuable water bodies. She questioned the effectiveness of sending "old men and women" to confront heavily armed illegal miners, noting that such a strategy demonstrates a lack of seriousness in the fight against galamsey.

"Are the people I saw in the video those going to help fight galamsey?" Daaku asked. "The illegal miners are armed with AK47s and other weapons, weapons that even soldiers don't have. How are these guards going to stop them? When the Minister himself said these illegal miners have taken over seven water reserves, how can these guards possibly handle that?" she continued, expressing doubt that Mahama and his appointees understand the gravity of the galamsey issue.

Daaku went on to criticize both Mahama and Buah, remarking that the government’s actions contradict the strong stance they took while in opposition. "When you were in opposition, you were the wisest. Now that you're in power, this is what you do? Is everything okay with Mahama and his Minister?" she asked. "Kofi Armah Buah, be serious. The fight against galamsey is not a joke."

She concluded by reiterating that if Mahama and Buah were truly serious about combating galamsey, they would not have resorted to sending "old men and women water guards wearing Adidas" to tackle such a serious problem.