Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the NPP National Director of Communications, has raised eyebrows over military operations against illegal mining (galamsey), arguing that the exercises have largely resulted in the seizure or destruction of excavators without any significant display of gold recovered.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Miracles Aboagye criticised what he described as the government’s repeated presentation of footage showing excavators being seized or burnt during raids on illegal mining sites.
He questioned why the authorities continued to publicise the destruction of mining equipment without showing evidence of gold recovered from the operations.
“Every day they come and show us, we went here, we ransacked the people, we saw excavators, we burnt it. Never for once have they brought us gold,” he stated.
Beyond his concerns about the military raids, the NPP communicator claimed that illegal mining had become worse under President John Mahama’s administration, despite the government’s enforcement efforts.
He cited Osino, Konongo and communities in the Asante Akyem area as places where illegal mining was allegedly continuing along the road towards Kumasi.
According to him, the activities of illegal miners in these communities raise questions about the government’s ability to effectively tackle the menace, particularly when some of the operations are reportedly taking place close to police stations.
“As we speak this morning, as we are sitting on this TV right now, Osino, Konongo, Asante Akyem, all the way to Kumasi, the people are mining,” he said.
Miracles Aboagye further argued that the government’s reliance on military deployments was not significantly different from the approach adopted by the previous administration.
He argued that despite the raids and destruction of equipment, the situation on the ground had not reflected the improvements promised by the NDC before returning to power.
“Today in Ghana, galamsey is worse than it was in 2024. Everywhere you go,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has announced plans to summon the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to Parliament to clarify the government’s position on reports that miners could commence operations without licences and regularise their activities afterwards.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, made this announcement during a Leaders’ Media Briefing on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, expressing concern over comments attributed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi.
Sammy Gyamfi had reportedly suggested that miners operating outside restricted areas, including water bodies and forest reserves, could be allowed to undertake mining activities while steps were taken to regularise their operations.
However, Afenyo-Markin argued that such a position could undermine the legal framework governing mining in Ghana, particularly the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
He maintained that the law does not permit individuals to engage in small-scale mining without first obtaining the necessary licence.
“The Minerals and Mining Act 2006, Act 703, admits no exception, and registration and regularisation must never become an amnesty,” he stated.
Under Section 82(1) of Act 703, a licence must be obtained before a person can undertake small-scale mining operations.
The Minority Leader said the caucus wanted the Lands Minister to explain whether the reported position of the Gold Board CEO reflected the government’s official policy and how the proposed regularisation process would comply with existing mining laws.
Afenyo-Markin stressed that efforts to address galamsey should not be influenced by political considerations, arguing that the destruction of the country’s natural resources affects all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliations.
“Our rivers and forests are not partisan,” Afenyo-Markin declared.
Afenyo-Markin stressed that the Minority would pursue the matter through Parliament and demand clarity from the minister, warning against any approach to formalising small-scale mining that could weaken the enforcement of existing laws.
New footage allegedly captures the moments leading to the arrest of a suspect in connection with the tragic killing of 15-year-old Ghanaian teenager Javits Frimpong in the Bronx, New York. #GHNow https://t.co/NtPvHXlPFi
— GHnow (@ghnow_) November 13, 2026
