Galamsey fight tougher than NDC expected in opposition – Ako Gunn

Godwin Ako Gunn, an aspirant for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Communications Officer position, has admitted that the fight against illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, has proved more difficult than the party anticipated while in opposition.

He said the scale of illegal mining and the extent of environmental destruction had exposed the complexity of the challenge since the NDC assumed office.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Friday, October 30, 2026, Mr Gunn acknowledged that the party had underestimated the problem while criticising the previous government’s handling of illegal mining.

He said the NDC had initially believed that preventing its members from engaging in illegal mining would significantly help address the menace, but had since realised that the problem extended beyond political involvement.

“Then we realised that the thing was bigger than political involvement,” he said.

Mr Gunn cited discoveries of extensive mining activities and settlements within forest reserves as evidence of the scale of the problem, noting that some operations were difficult to detect because of their location and concealment.

He maintained that the government remained committed to ending illegal mining but acknowledged that political will alone would not be sufficient to resolve the crisis.

The NDC communications officer aspirant also proposed properly regulated community mining as a possible way to tackle the problem.

He argued that involving local communities in organising and managing mining activities, alongside the establishment of designated mining areas, could help reduce illegal operations.

Mr Gunn’s comments highlight the challenges confronting the government as it seeks to address illegal mining and its effects on the country’s forests and water bodies.