The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam-Adoagyiri and Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, says illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, will form the core of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) campaign ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Speaking to Citi News after casting his ballot at the Pep Sports Complex in Asamankese during the NPP Eastern Regional elections on Saturday, August 15, Mr Annoh-Dompreh said the party would make the fight against illegal mining a major campaign issue.

“Galamsey will form the core of the narrative of our campaign in 2028,” he said.

“Water is life. If today the Birim River is destroyed and we can’t even get water, we need to talk about it. It is not just about campaign. It’s about survival, it’s about livelihood, it’s about humanity,” he added.

The NPP will go into the 2028 elections with former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as its flagbearer.

The issue of illegal mining remains a major environmental concern, with Ghana losing an estimated 8,900 hectares of forest reserves to galamsey.

The figure, equivalent to about 12,500 football fields, was disclosed by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, during a policy dialogue with the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education in Accra.

Mr Buah said nine of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves had been severely affected by illegal mining, with significant pressure also being placed on Forestry Commission personnel responsible for protecting the affected areas.

The government has acknowledged that the prosecution of suspects remains a major challenge in the fight against galamsey.

However, figures from the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry covering operations up to July 2026 indicate that 258 people have been arrested in connection with illegal mining activities in forest reserves.