Investigate Akufo-Addo’s Govt Over $200M Investment in Galamsey Fight; Small-Scale Miners to Prez

The National Concerned Association of Small-Scale Miners (NCASSM) has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to investigate the investment of over $200 million in the fight against illegal mining locally known as galamsey.

According to the Association, the amount was invested between 2017 and 2024.

“The association alleges mismanagement of resources meant for interventions to curb the environmental and social effects of galamsey,” it said in a statement.

It faults the former government in the procurement of Pickups and Drones at over $2 million; GalamStop App development at $ 1 million; “questionable” GPS Tracking Devices; and ineffective training of Drone Pilots.

“Funds were used to purchase branded pickup trucks for “Operation Galam Stop” and over $2 million was spent on drones for surveillance. However, many drones are reportedly missing.”

“Approximately $1 million was invested in developing a technology platform to streamline licensing and monitoring of small-scale mining. The application, however, failed to deliver on its intended purpose.”

It has therefore called for an independent audit of the $200 million allocated for the campaign and examine the procurement and deployment of resources such as drones, trucks, and GPS devices.

Additionally, it wants an audit run into the seized mining equipment and hold accountable those responsible for their sale or destruction and a full report on failed initiatives, including the GalamStop application.

Further, it has called for the prosecution of individuals or groups found to have misused public funds or diverted resources intended for the fight against galamsey.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini