The political landscape of Ghana is dominated by two major parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), whose actions, according to Akwasi Addae Odike, leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP), have consistently betrayed the trust of the Ghanaian people, particularly concerning the devastating issue of illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey. Odike argues that both parties have cynically exploited the galamsey crisis, recognizing that public outcry rarely translates into tangible electoral consequences. They leverage the issue as a political football, trading accusations and counter-accusations while simultaneously benefiting from the illicit practice once in power. This cyclical pattern of exploitation and inaction, Odike asserts, is at the heart of Ghana’s environmental degradation.
Odike’s critique centers on the perceived hypocrisy of both parties, particularly the NDC. He points to the NDC’s vehement criticisms of the NPP’s handling of galamsey while in opposition, accusing former President Akufo-Addo of being the mastermind behind the practice. These accusations, Odike contends, were primarily driven by political opportunism rather than genuine concern for the environment. He highlights the irony of former President Mahama’s campaign promises, which included employing advanced technology like artificial intelligence to combat galamsey, contrasting it with the NDC’s alleged complicity in the practice once in power.
This political gamesmanship, according to Odike, perpetuates a vicious cycle of environmental destruction. The NPP and NDC, secure in the knowledge that their electoral prospects remain largely unaffected by public discontent over galamsey, engage in performative condemnations while failing to implement effective solutions. This lack of accountability allows illegal mining to flourish, leading to devastating consequences for Ghana’s natural resources, water bodies, and overall ecological health. Odike’s accusations paint a stark picture of a political system where the pursuit of power trumps the well-being of the nation and its environment.
The core of Odike’s argument lies in the perceived disconnect between political rhetoric and concrete action. He claims that both the NPP and the NDC utilize galamsey as a convenient tool for political point-scoring, exploiting public anxieties about the issue to gain an edge over their rivals. This strategy relies on the assumption that Ghanaians, while expressing outrage over the devastating effects of illegal mining, ultimately prioritize party loyalty over environmental protection when casting their ballots. This cynical calculation, Odike argues, allows both parties to maintain a façade of concern while perpetuating the very problem they publicly condemn.
The cyclical nature of this political dynamic, according to Odike, is particularly damaging. The opposition party, whether it be the NDC or the NPP, uses the ruling party’s handling of galamsey as a weapon against them, promising radical change and decisive action. Once in power, however, the newly elected party often fails to deliver on these promises, instead falling into the same patterns of complicity and inaction that characterized their predecessors. This continuous cycle of broken promises and unmet expectations further erodes public trust and allows the environmental crisis to escalate.
Odike’s accusations against the NPP and NDC underscore a deeper concern about the state of Ghanaian politics. He highlights the dangers of a two-party system where political expediency often overrides genuine commitment to addressing critical national issues. The alleged manipulation of the galamsey crisis for political gain, he argues, exemplifies a broader trend of prioritizing short-term political victories over the long-term well-being of the country and its citizens. This, according to Odike, is the fundamental problem that needs to be addressed to break the cycle of environmental destruction and restore public trust in the political process.
