Joseph Yammin, National Organiser of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has publicly criticized the government’s anti-illegal mining task forces, accusing them of deviating from their intended purpose and instead engaging in extortion of legitimate miners. Yammin argues that the task forces, ostensibly established to combat illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey,” have become a source of harassment and corruption, exacerbating the problem they were meant to solve. He believes the task force operations, far from curbing illegal mining, have morphed into an organized system of extortion, targeting even those with proper mining licenses. This has led him to call upon President John Dramani Mahama to immediately suspend all task force operations and conduct a thorough review of their activities.
Yammin’s critique centers around the lack of transparency and accountability in the task forces’ operations. He questions the methods used to verify the legitimacy of mining operations, highlighting the apparent absence of a clear process for checking licenses and permits. This lack of due process, he argues, allows the task forces to operate with impunity, harassing licensed miners and demanding bribes under the guise of combating illegal mining. He contends that this unchecked power has created a system where individuals within the task forces are profiting from the prevailing chaos and confusion, while the actual problem of illegal mining continues unabated.
The severity of Yammin’s allegations is underscored by his public appeal to the President, urging him to intervene directly. He insists on a complete halt to all task force operations, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive reassessment of the government’s strategy against galamsey. Yammin is advocating for a more structured and transparent approach, one that differentiates between legal and illegal mining operations and protects legitimate miners from harassment and extortion. He believes that the current system, characterized by arbitrary actions and a lack of oversight, not only fails to address the root causes of illegal mining but also undermines the government’s credibility in tackling the issue.
Yammin’s accusations, delivered in a video address to a group of miners, have quickly gained traction on social media, sparking widespread debate about the government’s commitment to combating illegal mining. The video, although lacking specific details about its location and timing, has resonated with many who share concerns about the efficacy and integrity of the anti-galamsey task forces. The public nature of this criticism from within the ruling party itself adds further weight to the allegations, putting increased pressure on the government to respond and address the concerns raised. It also highlights the potential for internal dissent within the NDC regarding the handling of the galamsey issue.
The core of Yammin’s argument revolves around the perversion of the task forces’ mandate. He portrays them not as agents of law enforcement but as instruments of extortion, preying on both legal and illegal miners. This, he argues, undermines the very purpose of their existence, transforming them from a solution to a significant part of the problem. The continued operation of these task forces under the current system, according to Yammin, only serves to enrich a select few while exacerbating the challenges faced by legitimate miners and failing to effectively combat illegal mining.
This controversy underscores the complex challenges inherent in addressing illegal mining in Ghana. While the need to combat galamsey is widely acknowledged, the implementation of effective and equitable strategies remains a significant hurdle. Yammin’s accusations raise critical questions about the government’s approach, suggesting the need for greater transparency, accountability, and a more nuanced understanding of the dynamics within the mining sector. The public debate sparked by his statements highlights the urgency of these concerns and the need for a decisive response from the government to restore public trust and effectively address the multifaceted problem of illegal mining.
