Manasseh Azure Slams Mahama’s Commitment to Fighting Galamsey
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure has criticized former President John Mahama’s handling of illegal mining (galamsey) in Ghana. He argues that Mahama lacked seriousness and strong commitment during his first term, and his current body language suggests little will change in the fight against galamsey.
Manasseh Azure’s Disillusionment with the Fight Against Galamsey
Manasseh Azure, an investigative journalist, has expressed disillusionment and hopelessness with the nation’s efforts to defeat illegal mining, or galamsey, which has contaminated waterways nationwide and decimated multiple forest reserves.
Manasseh expressed his anger with President John Dramani Mahama’s strategy for fighting illegal mining nationwide, which he said demonstrated a lack of leadership’s desire to put a stop to the situation.
Criticism of President Mahama’s Leadership on Galamsey
He conjectured that while President Mahama showed a strong command of a number of areas in his September 10, 2025, media appearance, he did not demonstrate enough dedication to fighting galamsey during his first term, and his current body language indicated a similar strategy.
In a Facebook post, Azure expressed his dismay and maintained that the President’s handling of Galamsey blatantly showed a lack of seriousness and a failure to show a resolve to promptly eliminate the threat with bold answers.
Lack of Seriousness in Tackling Illegal Mining
“However, he has been quite disappointing on Galamsey,” he wrote. According to the President, the decline did not begin until the final eight years of Akufo-Addo’s rule.
When President Mahama was in office, I worked as a journalist. I didn’t think he took the threat seriously during his first term.
Furthermore, his body language doesn’t seem to indicate that things will change.
The Danger of Normalizing Galamsey
Manasseh asserts that food crops can still be grown on land that Galamsey devastated. Thus, we must not give the sense that “deviant acts,” as the President put it, are the only way to stop illegal mining.
Concerns Over Dissolving the IGP Task Force
He condemned the government’s decision to dissolve a recent task group that was established by Christian Tetteh Yohuno, the Inspector General of Police, to eradicate all illicit mining operations in water bodies and forest reserves.
“Instead of simply asking the IGP task force to confirm permits when they visit a location, why disband it? “Which locations were invaded by the task force and later proved to be valid mining concessions?” he enquired.
Azure’s Final Remarks on Mahama’s Leadership
“So far, President,” he said in closing, “you have done well. After listening to you tonight, I feel even more despondent about the struggle against Galamsey, even if Ghanaians are starting to regain optimism in many areas.”
He did, however, commend President Mahama for his brilliance in other areas.
Mahama’s Strengths in Other Areas
“President Mahama has consistently shown a thorough understanding of every area since his first term. He noted that a minister or an appointee would not be able to simply trick him.”
