The Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) has delivered what it calls the “True State of the Nation” address, challenging the accuracy of President John Dramani Mahama’s recent presentation to Parliament.
According to the Minority caucus, the President’s address did not reflect the true state of affairs in the country.
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Below is the full speech delivered by former Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam.
THE TRUE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS BY THE NPP MINORITY CAUCUS IN PARLIAMENT AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE – 3RD MARCH 2025
The fight against Galamsey has been difficult no doubt. President Mills struggled with it, President Mahama struggled with it in his first term, and despite the best of efforts, President Akufo Addo also struggled with it. After having made so much propaganda about it while in opposition, key NDC figures appearing before Parliament’s appointments committee could not substantiate any of the propaganda allegations of the NPP being complicit in the galamsey phenomenon.
In contrast, media networks are now reporting that weeks after the election, known NDC kingpins in the Ashanti region have invaded some forests and commenced galamsey activities.
On the 19th Day of January 2025 edition of the Ghanaian Daily Graphic, it was reported that illegal miners numbering about 60 breached the Anglo Gold Ashanti Mines Security fence and intruded at Cote D. The aim of the illegal miners was to enter the Deep Decline.
The decision to enter the Deep Decline was because of a promise made to these illegal miners by the leadership of the NDC during the campaign. The promise was to assist them to illegally mine in areas which had been legally acquired by the Anglo Gold Company.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, speaking to Parliament on February 19, 2025, raised a very disturbing issue of insecurity leading to an alarming rate of illegal mining activities within the nation’s forest reserves. Nine (9) out of the forty-four (44) forest reserves have been completely taken by illegal mining thugs with impunity.
Our security agents and the Forestry Commission no longer have access to these Forest Reserves. We wish to ask, since when thugs involved in illegal mining became more powerful than our well-trained security agents? This is the true state of the fight against galamsey for which reason the President’s address was scanty on any real steps to tackle the canker.
