New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore in the Ashanti Region Dr Ayew Afriyie, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of importing foreign nationals to engage in illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, which has significantly harmed Ghana's water bodies.
Speaking at the Bawumia Volunteers 2024 (B24) launch in Kumasi over the weekend, Dr Afriyie claimed that these actions were politically motivated, and aimed at undermining the NPP's popularity ahead of the upcoming elections.
In his remarks, Dr Afriyie asserted that the NPP would not be lured into a trap by the NDC to ban galamsey, a move he suggested could jeopardise the party's hold on parliamentary seats in mining areas.
He emphasised that the government has no plans of imposing a ban on illegal mining in the immediate future, refuting claims that such a decision is forthcoming.