The Member of Parliament (MP) for Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has criticised the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government over what he describes as its failure to fulfil campaign promises to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, and create employment opportunities through its flagship 24-Hour Economy policy.
According to the former Deputy Minister of Health, the government has failed to deliver on its assurances to tackle illegal mining and provide sustainable jobs for the youth, with the situation allegedly worsening as illegal mining activities continue to threaten water bodies and forest reserves.
He argued that, instead of implementing effective measures to curb the menace, the government is presiding over a situation in which illegal mining has become an alternative source of employment for young people struggling to find jobs.
Speaking on Asasepa FM, Mr Acquah expressed concern that communities that had not previously experienced mining activities are increasingly being affected by illegal mining operations, resulting in environmental degradation and the deterioration of water bodies.
He maintained that the situation contradicts the NDC’s campaign promises to protect the country’s natural resources and decisively address the galamsey menace.
Mr Acquah attributed the continued involvement of young people in illegal mining partly to the government’s alleged failure to create the employment opportunities it promised during the 2024 general election campaign.
He specifically questioned the implementation of the Agenda 1-3-3 component of the 24-Hour Economy policy, which was presented as a strategy to expand employment by organising work into three shifts and engaging three different workers to fill one position.
According to him, many Ghanaians supported the NDC’s proposed economic transformation agenda because they expected it to generate jobs and ease the difficulties facing unemployed young people.
However, he argued that the government’s inability to demonstrate significant progress in implementing the employment initiative has left many young people without the alternatives needed to keep them away from illegal mining.
Mr Acquah suggested that the lack of viable employment opportunities has made galamsey attractive to some young people, despite the environmental consequences of their activities.
He further alleged that the government’s approach has emboldened illegal miners, allowing the destruction of water bodies and forest reserves to continue.
The Akyem Oda MP’s comments add to the political debate over the government’s handling of illegal mining and the delivery of its flagship employment and economic policies.
The former Deputy Health Minister also questioned the government’s commitment to the 24-Hour Economy policy, arguing that the initiative has received less public attention from NDC officials than it did during the party’s election campaign.
He challenged government ministers and NDC Members of Parliament to explain the progress made in implementing the policy, particularly its employment-generation component.
“Today, do you hear the NDC people talking about the 24-Hour Economy? Everybody is running away from it. When was the last time you heard the MPs and even the ministers of state talking about it?” he asked.
Mr Acquah contended that the apparent decline in public discussion of the policy raises questions about whether the government is making meaningful progress towards fulfilling its promises.
He maintained that the failure to deliver on the initiative would amount to a disappointment for Ghanaians who voted for the NDC with the expectation that the policy would provide jobs and stimulate economic activity.
His criticism centres on the Agenda 1-3-3 proposal, which he believes should be a key measure of the government’s commitment to addressing unemployment.
Mr Acquah also questioned the direction of the government’s proposed 24-Hour Economy Markets initiative, arguing that attention has shifted towards the market component while concerns remained over the implementation of the broader policy.
He referred to the government’s move to rebrand the proposed markets as District Economy Markets, also described as District Model Markets.
The change in name has become part of the wider political discussion about how the government intends to implement its economic transformation agenda at the district level.
For Mr Acquah, however, the central concern is whether the policy will deliver tangible economic benefits, particularly in the form of jobs for young people.
He argued that Ghanaians who supported the NDC’s economic proposals during the election campaign expect concrete results rather than changes in the presentation or branding of its initiatives.
The Akyem Oda legislator further claimed that some people engaged in illegal mining has expressed dissatisfaction with the prices offered for gold and diamonds, which he said is among the factors influencing their decision to resort to illegal operations.
He suggested that the government’s efforts to address galamsey must also consider the economic circumstances driving people into the activity, alongside law enforcement and environmental protection measures.
His comments highlight the tension between the need to provide livelihoods for communities and the urgent need to protect the country’s water resources, forests and other environmental assets from the harmful effects of illegal mining.
Illegal mining remains a major environmental and governance concern in Ghana, with activities linked to the degradation of forest reserves, pollution of water bodies and threats to the sustainability of natural resources.
Successive governments have faced pressure to enforce mining regulations, strengthen monitoring and provide alternative livelihoods for communities affected by the activity.
The NDC campaigned on commitments to tackle illegal mining and use its proposed 24-Hour Economy policy to expand employment opportunities.
Mr Acquah’s latest criticism raises questions about the pace of implementation and whether the government is meeting the expectations it created during the election campaign.
He believes the continued environmental damage, coupled with concerns about youth unemployment, points to a gap between the government’s promises and the situation on the ground.
The government faces the challenge of demonstrating measurable progress in tackling illegal mining while creating sustainable employment opportunities that can reduce the economic incentives drawing young people into the galamsey trade.
For Mr Acquah, the two issues are closely connected: until young people have access to viable livelihood opportunities, efforts to eliminate illegal mining will continue to face significant challenges.
By 1960news.com
