NDC Communicator Applauds Armah Kofi-Buah's Unrelenting Fight against Galamsey

A leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communication Team, Mr. John Afful, has showered praise on the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, for what he describes as an unwavering and results-driven commitment to the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

In an exclusive interview with ExpressNewsGhana, Mr. Afful commended the Minister for what he termed an “exemplary and unprecedented performance” since his appointment to the sensitive portfolio under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.

“Hon. Armah Kofi-Buah has shown real leadership and resilience in tackling the galamsey menace head-on. From our forest reserves to our water bodies, he has taken bold steps to reclaim and protect our environment,” Mr. Afful stated.

He noted that since assuming office, the Minister has halted the practice where presidential influence was used to grant mining licences in forest reserves.

“This single act alone is a major boost to environmental protection and a sign of political will to end illegal mining,” he said.

Mr. Afful further highlighted the Minister’s initiative to establish a new community-based intelligence system, informally dubbed the “Blue Watch Initiative”, aimed at empowering mining communities to provide real-time information on illegal mining activities.

“This initiative is making a real difference. Our water bodies are becoming clearer, and the rate of destruction is going down. Importantly, he has also stopped party bigwigs from using political connections to destroy our forests and rivers,” Afful said.

Touching on broader interventions, Mr. Afful lauded the Minister’s engagement with traditional authorities, which he believes is a crucial component of the successful fight against galamsey.

He also cited the seizure of excavators used for illegal mining as a strong deterrent under the Minister’s leadership.

“He’s also implemented the ‘Tree for Life’ project, under which over 7 million trees have been planted across the country to restore degraded lands and forests. This is a significant contribution to Ghana’s green agenda,” he added.

Mr. Afful, who previously contested for the position of Constituency Chairman in Weija-Gbawe, described the working environment at the Ministry as one of collaboration, commitment, and focus, owing to the leadership style of Hon. Kofi-Buah.

“The Minister has aligned the vision, mission, and objectives of the Ministry with the broader development agenda of the President and the aspirations of the Ghanaian people. His dedication is unmatched,” he emphasized.

Mr. Afful however called on all Ghanaians to support the Ministry’s efforts, stressing that environmental protection should be a collective national priority.