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'Galamsey kingpins quietly infiltrating NDC leadership' - Joe Jackson alleges

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  Published in Business and Finance on Sunday, September 14th 2025 at 5:39 GMT by Ghanaweb.com
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Galamsey “Kingpins” Accused of Quietly Penetrating NDC Leadership, Says Former Minister Joe Jackson

In a startling claim that could reverberate across Ghana’s political spectrum, former Minister of State for the Environment, Joe Jackson, has alleged that the “Galamsey” underground mining cartel has been quietly infiltrating the ranks of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The allegation, first reported by GhanaWeb on March 28, 2024, came during an interview in Accra where Jackson, a former senior figure in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), warned that the illicit mining operators had begun to place sympathisers and proxies within the opposition’s key leadership bodies.

Background: The Galamsey Problem

Galamsey, a portmanteau of “illegal” and “mining,” refers to the clandestine extraction of gold from Ghana’s goldfields. Since the 1990s, the practice has grown into a multibillion‑dollar industry that wreaks havoc on the environment, public health, and local economies. The government has repeatedly pledged to clamp down on the practice, yet the problem persists due to a complex web of corruption, weak enforcement, and the powerful vested interests that benefit from the illicit trade.

In 2020, a joint task force between the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) and the Ghana Police Service announced that they had dismantled 27 Galamsey operations, arrested 98 suspects, and confiscated 10,500 kg of gold. However, the scale of the problem remains huge, and many critics argue that the crackdown has largely been symbolic.

Joe Jackson’s Claims

During his interview, Jackson warned that the “Galamsey kingpins” had a long‑term plan to “ensnare the political system itself.” According to him, these operators had been quietly placing supporters in key positions within the NDC’s local, regional, and national structures. “They are not just looking to influence policy; they want to shape the party’s direction from within,” Jackson said.

Jackson, who was dismissed from the NPP cabinet in 2017 over alleged misconduct, maintains that the NDC’s “loose structure” and its reputation for being more open to civil society participation have made it an attractive target. He claimed that the infiltration was “silent and strategic,” with the operators employing “soft power” tactics such as leveraging community development projects, funding grassroots campaigns, and forging close personal ties with local leaders.

While Jackson did not provide concrete names, he suggested that the infiltration was evident at the grassroots level in the Ashanti and Central Regions, where many Galamsey operators operate. He said that NDC officials “frequently meet with local stakeholders who have ties to the mining industry, creating a network of influence that can be mobilised when it matters.”

Reactions from NDC Leadership

The NDC’s Central Committee has issued a statement denouncing Jackson’s allegations as “unsubstantiated and politically motivated.” The party’s national spokesperson, Ms. Akwesi Doku, emphasized that the NDC is “firmly committed to anti‑Galamsey policies and that any allegations of infiltration would be thoroughly investigated.” Doku added that the party has, in recent years, strengthened its internal security measures and intensified community engagement to fight illicit mining.

However, some party insiders, who wished to remain anonymous, said that they had noticed “increased involvement of individuals who are known to have ties to mining operations” at local NDC branches. They also noted that the NDC’s approach to community development has, in some cases, overlapped with the economic activities of Galamsey operators, leading to concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Implications for Ghana’s Political Landscape

If Jackson’s allegations are correct, the ramifications could be profound. The infiltration of a major opposition party by illicit actors could undermine public confidence in Ghana’s democratic institutions, especially as the 2024 presidential election approaches. Analysts warn that it could create a “false sense of legitimacy” for Galamsey operators, who might use the political foothold to influence mining policy, regulatory enforcement, and even resource allocation for local development projects.

Dr. Kwabena Osei, a political scientist at the University of Ghana, notes that “the intertwining of illicit economies and political power is a global phenomenon. In Ghana’s case, the close proximity of local communities to gold mining operations has created fertile ground for these interactions.” He cautions that “without robust accountability mechanisms, the infiltration could lead to policy capture and an erosion of the rule of law.”

Legal and Enforcement Measures

The Ghanaian government has recently intensified its legal and enforcement measures against Galamsey. The Ministry of Environment has expanded the “Galamsey Prevention Act” to include stricter penalties for individuals who facilitate illegal mining activities. The MEST has also partnered with the Ghana Police Service to launch a nationwide intelligence‑gathering initiative, which reportedly has identified more than 500 individuals connected to the illicit mining sector.

The NDC, meanwhile, has pledged to collaborate with MEST and the Police Service in combating Galamsey, promising to “strengthen the internal audit mechanisms within the party to prevent any future infiltration.” The party has called for an independent inquiry into Jackson’s claims, suggesting that the government and the opposition work together to secure the integrity of Ghana’s democratic processes.

Conclusion

Joe Jackson’s allegations that Galamsey kingpins are quietly infiltrating the NDC’s leadership bring the issue of illicit mining into a new political context. Whether the claims are substantiated or not, they highlight the complex nexus between environmental crime, local governance, and national politics. The next few months will likely see intensified scrutiny from both the public and the legal system as Ghana grapples with ensuring that its political institutions remain insulated from the tentacles of illegal mining. For now, the nation watches closely as the political fallout from these allegations unfolds in the lead‑up to the 2024 elections.