Cadman Atta Mills, brother of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, has strongly criticised the government’s handling of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
He warned that the human and environmental costs of the activity cannot be justified by the recent recovery of the cedi.
In a blunt statement posted on X formerly Twitter, Mr. Mills said, “ I refuse to pay for the accolades President Mahama and the NDC is receiving for the cedi’s recovery with my health or life.”
Mr. Mills’ remarks come as the government celebrates what it describes as a stabilisation of the economy, particularly the cedi’s rebound.
He argued that whether described as galamsey or “legal” small-scale mining operations backed by politically connected financiers, the destructive impact remains the same.
“It is killing us,” he stressed, pointing to the widespread pollution of rivers, degradation of farmlands, and the rising health risks confronting communities.