Private legal practitioner Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers has strongly criticized the Mahama administration’s handling of the illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) crisis, warning that the president’s legacy will be shaped by how effectively he addresses the environmental menace.
Brako-Powers believes the government has failed to demonstrate genuine commitment to ending galamsey.
He referenced the president’s campaign promises during the 2024 elections, suggesting that Ghanaians are still waiting for concrete plans and timelines to tackle the issue.
He also condemned the government’s recent Water Guard initiative, which involves deploying unarmed civilians to monitor water bodies.
According to him, this approach reflects a lack of understanding of the dangerous environments these civilians are being sent into, especially considering the presence of heavily armed illegal miners.
The legal practitioner argued that the tools to end galamsey already exist, but political will remains absent.
In his view, the government’s public statements are filled with contradictions and lack the urgency required to combat such a serious problem.
Brako-Powers concluded by calling on the youth of Ghana to take a stand and demand more from the country’s leaders, stressing that the environmental damage caused by galamsey poses a grave threat to the nation’s future.
