SONA 2024: Fighting Galamsey Was One of My Presidency’s Toughest Challenges- Akufo Addo Confesses

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has described the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, as one of the most challenging undertakings of his presidency.

Speaking during his 2024 State of the Nation Address, the President reflected on the sacrifices and successes tied to the campaign, stating that he nearly risked his presidency to combat the menace.

“Tackling galamsey was a priority from the very beginning of my administration because of its devastating impact on our environment and water bodies,” President Akufo-Addo explained. “I knew it was not going to be easy, but I felt strong enough on the need to protect our environment and was prepared to put my presidency on the line to defend lives and water bodies.”

The President acknowledged the political costs of the campaign, noting that many of his party’s parliamentary candidates lost their seats in the 2020 elections due to the stringent measures against illegal mining.

Despite these setbacks, the fight against galamsey persisted into his second term, with the government continuing to enforce tough regulations and measures.

The efforts yielded significant results. Ghana emerged as Africa’s leading gold producer in 2023, achieving a record 4 million ounces of gold production.

Additionally, the government facilitated the construction of a 400 kg-capacity gold refinery and finalised discussions for a $450 million manganese refinery at Nsuta, milestones aimed at adding value to Ghana’s mineral resources.

President Akufo-Addo emphasised that the fight against galamsey is not a battle against mining but a call for responsible resource extraction that safeguards the environment for future generations.

“I pray more of us embrace the need for protection of our lands and water bodies,” he said. “The fight against galamsey is not a fight against mining or the extraction of the gold the Almighty has generously endowed us with. We owe it to future generations to extract in a manner that protects the environment.”

The President called on all stakeholders, including miners, traditional authorities, and policymakers, to support efforts aimed at balancing economic benefits with environmental preservation.

He reiterated that safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources is a collective responsibility crucial for the country’s sustainable development.