Oda MP Akwasi Acquah slams galamsey inaction at NPP’s ‘Democracy Under Attack’ march

Akyem Oda MP Alexander Akwasi Acquah has stated that prominent state officials who perished in a tragic anti-galamsey mission a year ago “died in vain,” because illegal mining has worsened despite their ultimate sacrifice.

The lawmaker made the fiery remarks today during the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) massive ‘Democracy Under Attack’ demonstration in the capital, Accra.

Speaking passionately from the demonstration grounds, Akwasi Acquah turned the spotlight onto the country’s ongoing environmental crisis, tying the loss of state leaders directly to what he describes as a stagnant and failing fight against galamsey.

“Omane Boamah, Muniru, and the others died in vain. One year after their passing, little has been done to tackle galamsey, and the illegal mining crisis has only worsened despite their sacrifice,” Akwasi Acquah stated.

The NPP’s ‘Democracy Under Attack’ march, organized to protest recent political and governance grievances, became the backdrop for Akwasi Acquah’s scathing environmental critique. Surrounded by protestors holding placards, the MP argued that the greatest disservice to the memory of the fallen officials is the current state of Ghana’s heavily polluted water bodies and devastated forest reserves.

The tragedy, which occurred exactly one year ago today on August 6, 2025, involved a fatal helicopter crash that claimed the lives of key national figures—including Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna—while they were en route to launch a major anti-illegal mining initiative.

Akwasi Acquah’s comments reflect a growing national frustration. While the government has held solemn anniversary memorials and promised to honour the legacy of the deceased, the MP insisted that the reality on the ground tells a completely different story. According to him, illegal mining networks have only grown bolder and more destructive over the past twelve months.

Hon. Akwasi Acquah stressed that rather than using the ruthless force that was pledged to combat the galamsay threat, the government has rather come together in memory of the eight deceased. The move, he said, was “hypocritical.”

“It was hypocritical of government officials to gather in memory of the perished 8, when the cause they died for has worsened. The best memory would have been to tackle the Galamsay menace with the brutal force that was promised,” he fired.

By invoking the names of the tragedy’s most prominent victims at a massive political rally, the Akyem Oda lawmaker has aggressively renewed pressure on environmental authorities, signalling that the galamsey crisis remains a highly volatile political issue.

Nana Prekoh Eric

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