Notable backlash has been directed at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by Dr. Tony Aubynn, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, for insinuating that they could face electoral defeat in the forthcoming December 7 general election if they heed calls to prohibit small-scale mining.
Dr. Aubynn has criticized the government and its appointees for their apparent reluctance to clamp down on illegal mining, citing the upcoming election as a major factor.
He decried the government’s tendency to shift blame onto him and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the loss of several parliamentary seats in the 2020 elections.
During the intense political atmosphere of the 2020 elections, Dr. Aubynn and then-deputy National Communications Officer Kwaku Boahen were accused of visiting mining communities in the Western Region and allegedly assuring them that the opposition party would not ban illegal mining if they came into power.
While both individuals have denied any misconduct, NPP communicators have continued to defend their stance against the banning or combating of illegal mining, erroneously attributing the loss of seats mainly to mining areas.
This contention has been proven false, as the party experienced seat losses across the country, not solely in mining regions such as the Ashanti, Eastern, and Western Regions – traditional NPP strongholds.
The NPP, represented by Dr. Akua Amoakoh during TV3’s Newday program which exclusively featured female panelists, reiterated these claims.
Dr. Aubynn, who was watching the program, phoned in to rebut the accusations levied against him, emphasizing that he visited mining sites only once for research purposes and not as an NDC member. In a passionate outburst, Dr. Aubynn questioned the veracity of the allegations and urged Dr. Amoakoh to refrain from disseminating falsehoods.
He emphasized that combatting illegal mining requires policy implementation rather than militaristic approaches, urging her to familiarize herself with his long-standing advocacy for small-scale mining reforms dating back to 2019.
Expressing exasperation at the repeated use of his name in political debates, Dr. Aubynn drew parallels with former President John Dramani Mahama’s controversial decision to halt the payment of allowances for trainee nurses in favor of investing in healthcare infrastructure and employment opportunities.
Challenging the NPP’s stance on illegal mining, Dr. Aubynn underscored the need for bold decision-making in the interest of public welfare, noting that enduring short-term political setbacks should not deter proactive governance.
In concluding remarks, Dr. Aubynn urged the NPP to address pressing issues such as environmental degradation and public health concerns arising from illegal mining activities, emphasizing that misrepresentation and political expedience should not overshadow substantive policy discussions.