President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), KNUST Chapter, Prof. Eric Abavare, has launched a scathing critique of President John Dramani Mahama, accusing him of lacking genuine commitment to the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Speaking to Citi News, Prof. Abavare described the president’s post-election conduct as inconsistent with the strong anti-galamsey stance he displayed during the 2024 campaign period.
His comments follow the signing of a pact between presidential candidates of the two main political parties ahead of the 2024 general elections. The agreement included critical commitments such as the repeal of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462 and the declaration of a state of emergency in areas affected by illegal mining.
According to Prof. Abavare, President Mahama has failed to uphold those pledges since assuming office, casting doubt on his sincerity.
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“Mr. President, I do not want to use the word that you are a conman, but from the actions so far, it is evident that you are a conman. You are a conman in the sense that the alacrity and pragmatism with which you exhibited prior to the election are not the same,” he stated.
He further suggested that President Mahama may have vested interests that are hindering a decisive response to the crisis.
“It means that you have some interest. I do not want to be told that because of the GoldBod, gold exploration and gold mining, but that cannot equate the danger,” Prof. Abavare said.
He called on the president to show consistency and follow through with the commitments made, warning that failure to do so will erode public trust and undermine the integrity of governance in tackling illegal mining.
