Cadman Atta Mills, brother of the late President Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, has strongly criticized the government’s approach to illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
He argued that the severe human and environmental toll of galamsey cannot be justified by the recent strengthening of the Ghanaian cedi.
His remarks come in reaction to President John Mahama’s comments during a media engagement on Wednesday, September 10, where the President noted that the government was exploring all avenues to address the galamsey menace — including the potential declaration of a state of emergency.
Mr. Mills emphasized that whether labeled as galamsey or “legal” small-scale mining with political backing, the destruction to communities and ecosystems remains unchanged.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated:
“I refuse to pay for the accolades President Mahama and the NDC are receiving for the cedi’s recovery with my health or life.
Call it galamsey or ‘legal’ small-scale mining (when bankrolled by the politically connected) — it is killing us. #StopGalamseyNow.”
