Joseph Yamin’s galamsey task force remarks a Campaign tactic

Dr. Ekua Amoako, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications team, has said that comments by the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) National Organizer, Joseph Yamin, on the government’s anti-galamsey task force are nothing more than a campaign strategy targeted at mining communities.

According to Dr. Ekua Amoako, Joseph Yamin’s allegations that the task force is extorting money from illegal miners is a campaign vote-winning strategy.

“It’s quite obvious he was campaigning. He was campaigning to the people of Akwatia, which is a stock-in-trade of the NDC. They go to places and they utilize issues that they feel will pull on their heartstrings,” Dr. Amoako said.

She explained that Yamin’s approach was to appeal directly to miners by portraying the task force as an obstacle to their livelihoods.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show on Monday, 22 August, 2025, Dr. Amoako stated that Yamin’s position was clearly aimed at winning political sympathy rather than addressing the issue of illegal mining.

“So he’s talking to miners, and he’s telling the miners that, oh, the task force, they are disturbing you. So we should do something about it.

“ It’s a way to win votes, and that’s what they have been doing in these mining areas to create so much disaffection for the people that were actually fighting the problem,” she added.

Dr. Amoako concluded by stressing that such behavior should not be overlooked, calling for greater responsibility on the part of the NDC leadership.

“They are in government now. They should be more responsible about how they go around campaigning to people. It’s about time Joseph Yamin is called to order,” she stressed.

Her comments come after NDC National Organiser Joseph Yamin alleges that the government’s galamsey task force is extorting money from illegal miners instead of fighting the menace and called on President Mahama to impose a ban on the government’s anti-galamsey task force,