Newton-Offei Accuses Mahama Govt of U-Turn on Galamsey and State of Emergency
Justice A. Newton-Offei, a former Head of Writers at the Communications Directorate of the Office of the President at Jubilee House and an International Relations expert, has sharply criticised President John Dramani Mahama and his government over their handling of illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In a statement, Newton-Offei accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of abandoning positions it allegedly held while in opposition, particularly its previous calls for stronger measures to combat illegal mining.
He described Mr Mahama as the “Ananias of our time”, drawing a biblical comparison to accuse the President of dishonesty over his handling of the galamsey crisis.
According to Mr. Newton-Offei, opposition figures and other critics of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration had repeatedly called for a state of emergency to be declared to address the galamsey crisis.
He said the NDC, while in opposition, strongly criticised former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government over illegal mining and presented itself as capable of addressing the problem.
Mr. Newton-Offei also recalled President Mahama’s campaign promises concerning the use of technology, including artificial intelligence, in the fight against illegal mining.
He now argues that the government’s position on the issue has changed since assuming office.
“John Dramani Mahama vowed to end galamsey within a twinkle of an eye, through deployment of Artificial Intelligence and many novel innovations,” he said.
Mr. Newton-Offei also criticised some religious leaders, academics and journalists who, he said, had previously been vocal about the galamsey crisis but were now less critical of the government.
He described this as an “acrobatic summersault” and alleged that some individuals who had demanded stronger action under the previous administration were now taking a different position.
The former Jubilee House communications official also cited Sammy Gyamfi, who is currently associated with Ghana’s gold-trading arrangements, as an example of what he considers a change in position.
Mr. Newton-Offei recalled Mr. Gyamfi’s previous public criticism of illegal mining and his appearances at polluted water bodies while in opposition.
He questioned the relationship between such earlier criticism and the government’s present approach to the gold sector.
Another major issue raised by Mr. Newton-Offei is the debate over whether declaring a state of emergency to combat galamsey would threaten the rights of Ghanaians.
He argued that calls for such a declaration under the previous administration were not accompanied by sufficient public discussion about the constitutional implications.
