President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has has expressed concern over the government's proposed GH₵ 50 million expenditure to combat illegal mining, popularly referred to as galamsey.

Assessing President John Dramani Mahama's first 120 days in office on Channel One TV's 'The Big Issue' on Saturday, May 10, he highlighted that such a large allocation seems excessive when compared to previous administrations, which spent much less on the same issue.

He emphasised the need for a more strategic approach, suggesting that the focus should be on repealing Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which activists have criticised for enabling irresponsible mining practices. "When I see, for instance, the expenditure outlay for fighting illegal mining, I feel like that is too much.

GH₵ 50 million is too much, and if you look at the previous administrations, the fact that they spent less. "To think that you want to spend GH₵ 50 million, well maybe we should wait for the outcome, but I am not entirely pleased because in that fact, Ghanaians and activists have been asking for a repeal of the L.I (L.I 2462). "Let's get certain things serious, we promised to do ABC, we should hold the full hog," he said. 12 recommendations unveiled to prevent another Akosombo Dam Spillage