The Branch Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Island City, Reuben Solomon Jabari, has claimed a political shift is underway among individuals previously involved in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Jabari stated, “The most interesting thing is that all the galamsey operators who were tagged during the NPP’s term are now turning to the NDC member.”
According to him, many of these individuals—once associated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during its crackdown on illegal mining—are now aligning themselves with the NDC in hopes of finding fairer political representation and support.
He hinted that these changes reflect broader dissatisfaction with how the NPP government handled the galamsey issue, particularly the way individuals were labelled and targeted.
Jabari’s comments come at a time when illegal mining remains a contentious political issue in Ghana, with both major parties—NPP and NDC—facing public pressure to propose sustainable solutions while maintaining community livelihoods.
While he did not provide specific names, Mr. Jabari insisted that the NDC’s message of inclusivity and fairness is drawing in those who felt neglected or vilified during the previous administration’s anti-galamsey efforts.