The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM), a leading civil society organisation focused on governance and environmental justice, has launched a scathing critique on President John Dramani Mahama’s approach to the illegal mining, commonly known in Ghana as galamsey.
In a statement released in Accra, the CDM described President Mahama’s current stance on the issue as “hypocritical,” “unconvincing,” and “a betrayal of public trust,” pointing to what it called a troubling inconsistency between his pre-election promises and his current leadership decisions.
Mounting Environmental and Humanitarian Crisis
The CDM’s concerns come amid growing alarm over the devastating impact of galamsey operations on Ghana’s environment, water systems and rural livelihoods.
“Illegal mining continues to poison Ghana’s vital water bodies, including the Pra, Ankobra and Offin rivers and scar once-fertile lands beyond repair.
The livelihoods of farmers, fisherfolk and entire rural communities are collapsing under the weight of polluted waters, deforestation and degraded soil,” the statement said.
In many mining-affected regions, entire ecosystems are being wiped out. Water treatment plants are under strain due to high levels of mercury, arsenic and other contaminants.
Insecurity has worsened in affected areas, forcing some residents to migrate across borders into neighbouring countries.
“This is not just an environmental crisis,” CDM warned, “but a humanitarian and national security emergency that is undermining Ghana’s democratic stability and future.”
Mahama’s Changing Tune: Then vs. Now
The heart of CDM’s critique is what it describes as President Mahama’s “flip-flop” on how to handle illegal mining. The group accuses the President of backtracking on bold declarations he made while in opposition.
CDM recalled that as an opposition leader, Mr. Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) advocated strongly for the declaration of a national emergency to tackle illegal mining.
“While in opposition, Mahama frequently described galamsey as a national emergency and called for extraordinary measures to address it,” the statement noted, adding “he, along with NDC officials, promised to declare a state of emergency and repeal the controversial Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which allows mining in forest reserves.”
What is L.I. 2462?
Legislative Instrument 2462, passed under a previous administration, permits mining in forest reserves under certain conditions.
Environmental activists and civil society groups have condemned the LI, arguing it opens the door for destructive exploitation of protected lands.
The CDM cited recent comments by President Mahama that suggest a clear deviation from his previous stance.
“I have been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we have not exhausted the powers available to us without such a declaration,” President Mahama reportedly said at a policy dialogue earlier this year.
To the CDM, this justification is unacceptable. “This is in stark contrast to his campaign rhetoric, where he repeatedly framed the galamsey menace as an existential threat to the nation’s survival, a crisis requiring emergency powers,” CDM stated.
The organisation argues that Mahama’s current reluctance to act decisively contradicts the moral urgency he previously espoused, and suggests that “political convenience may now outweigh ethical leadership.”
Failure of Successive Governments
While the statement focuses on President Mahama, the CDM was quick to add that both past and present administrations have failed to address the galamsey crisis with the urgency and impartiality it deserves.
“Successive governments, regardless of political party, have made lofty promises to eradicate galamsey, yet the practice persists. In many cases, illegal mining is protected by political patrons and powerful elites,” the group said.
CDM warned that without firm and impartial enforcement of Ghana’s environmental laws, the country’s natural resources will continue to be depleted, possibly beyond recovery.
“The continued failure to enforce the law has created an atmosphere of impunity. The time for half-measures is over. A state of emergency is long overdue.”
A Call for Ethical and Decisive Leadership
CDM’s statement concluded with a strong appeal to President Mahama to honour the social contract he made with Ghanaians and to show consistency between his words and actions.
“For someone who once decried inaction and demanded sweeping measures, this change in tone raises serious questions. Has the fight against illegal mining been sacrificed at the altar of political expediency?”
The civil society organisation urged other advocacy groups, traditional leaders and citizens to continue holding the government accountable in protecting the environment and future generations.
