Professor Godfred Bokpin, a Finance and Economics Lecturer at the University of Ghana, has criticised President John Dramani Mahama for what he describes as a lack of urgency in tackling illegal mining—popularly known as galamsey—during the first six months of his current administration.

Prof. Bokpin argued that although six months may seem a short period, the President had enough executive power and political goodwill early in his tenure to launch bold interventions against the escalating environmental threat.

“Six months is too short, but you know what? Six months has also been long enough for the president to demonstrate. Do we need like three years to declare a state of emergency? How many years do we need to repeal the L.I, which they all agreed in opposition that they ought to go?” he questioned in an interview on Joy FM.

Prof. Bokpin suggested that the same level of resolve shown by the Mahama administration in stabilising the economy should have been directed toward curbing illegal mining. He warned that continued inaction could have dire international repercussions for Ghana, including the risk of an ethical boycott of its gold exports.

He urged the government to show stronger political will in confronting galamsey and to implement decisive reforms to restore public confidence in the country’s environmental governance systems.

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