A blood brother of the late President Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills has questioned the government’s commitment to ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, that is destroying Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.
The Economist and former World Bank Macroeconomic Sector Manager, Dr Cadman Atta Mills, defended his decision to publicly criticise the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the menace.
He argued that loyalty should not be equated with silence in the face of flawed policies, suggesting that the government’s economic interests are undermining the galamsey fight.
Speaking on Joy FM on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Dr Cadman Mills said the John Dramani Mahama government appears “conflicted” in its approach, despite mounting public pressure for the President to declare a state of emergency over the crisis.
“I see, and maybe I am wrong, but I don’t think I am, that the government is a little conflicted in its fight against galamsey. It is not taking it seriously,” he said.
Dr Cadman Mils further argued that revenue flows from the illegal trade are being diverted into official foreign exchange channels, helping to stabilise the Ghanaian Cedi, which creates a dilemma for the Mahama government.
“The benefit that clearly the government is receiving, because they are diverting the foreign exchange that has gone into unofficial channels into the official channels, is doing a lot to stabilise the value of the Cedi. So that is one of the reasons why the government is a little bit conflicted about it (fight against galamsey),” he explained.
His remarks add to a wave of criticism from civil society groups and activists who insist that illegal mining has reached emergency levels, threatening water bodies, agriculture, and human lives.
In the lead-up to the 2024 general election, some leading members of the NDC called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency in galamsey areas to stop the menace.
However, the same persons, including Sam George, Haruna Iddrisu, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who are now cabinet ministers, are now backtracking on their own calls just nine months after winning the general election.
By Collins Adu-Gyamfi
