A policy analyst has sharply criticised Ghanaian authorities for prioritising election-related security over national challenges such as illegal mining.
Engineer Michael Kosi Dedey raised concerns over the allocation of resources, highlighting the deployment of over 5,000 police officers during Tuesday’s Akwatia by-election as a striking example.
The massive security presence also included soldiers, ministers, and other government officials, underscoring what Dedey described as “misplaced priorities.”
“The amount of resources we deploy for elections is phenomenal, because the political interest has become so keen for our political players, but when it comes to addressing national issues, you won’t find the same level of interest,” Dedey said on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily program Wednesday.
Dedey contrasted this electoral mobilisation with government efforts against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which has caused severe environmental damage across Ghana’s mining regions. Rivers have been polluted, agricultural land destroyed, and cocoa production threatened, yet the analyst noted a lack of sustained enforcement.
“For one election, you hear 5,000 policemen were deployed, all manner of things were done, soldiers, ministers, everybody was driving there. But when it comes to fighting galamsey, you don’t see 5,000 policemen, you don’t see the amount of soldiers,” he added.
The Akwatia by-election, triggered by the death of Member of Parliament Ernest Kumi, saw National Democratic Congress candidate Bernard Bediako Baidoo secure 18,199 votes out of 33,819 valid ballots cast. Dedey accused politicians of prioritising personal ambitions over national welfare, reflecting broader public frustration with governance approaches that focus on electoral success rather than long-term policy implementation.
“It looks like the politicians are more interested in their own interests than the national interest,” Dedey said.
Illegal mining remains a persistent challenge despite repeated crackdowns, with operations often resuming once security forces withdraw. Analysts argue that this resilience highlights the need for sustained political will, resource commitment, and enforcement beyond election periods.
With Ghana preparing for general elections in December 2024, debates around resource allocation, environmental protection, and governance effectiveness are expected to intensify. Government officials have not immediately responded to Dedey’s criticisms regarding the disparity between election security efforts and policy enforcement initiatives.
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