By: Nana Antwi Boasiako
The Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore Constituency, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye has clarified his comments on small-scale mining, which sparked backlash after a video from a September 27 campaign event suggested the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government wouldn’t ban small-scale mining. Dr. Afriye claims his remarks were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
The controversy surrounding his comments drew widespread attention and condemnation from advocacy groups pushing for strong government action against illegal small-scale mining, known locally as “galamsey.”
In an interview on an Accra-based radio station, he reiterated that his original comments on small-scale mining were misreported. He emphasized the need to differentiate between responsible small-scale mining operations and those harmful to the environment.
According to Dr. Afriye, the NPP-led government under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been working tirelessly to combat illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as “galamsey.” However, he notes that galamsey has surged in recent months, prompting the NDC to call for a blanket ban on mining. Dr. Afriye argues that such a ban would unfairly affect small-scale miners who operate responsibly, and that his comments were misinterpreted.