In a revealing turn of events, Professor Ransford Gyampo, a former political science lecturer at the University of Ghana finds himself at the center of controversy over what critics are calling a sharp reversal in his stance on illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey.”
Once a vociferous critic of government inaction on galamsey, Prof. Gyampo is now being accused of going soft on the same issues he once condemned—following his recent appointment under President Mahama’s administration.
Apparently exercising table manners with his mouth full, following his juicy appointment as the Director General of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Gyampo sees no evil, hears no evil on galamsey.
In October 2024, during a heated political climate triggered by Organized Labour’s call for a total ban on all mining activities and a state of emergency declared to fight galamsey, Prof. Gyampo made firm declarations on national television.
Speaking on TV3, he rejected any token gestures from government entities, stating:
“We are not honoring any invitation of any inter-ministerial committee. They demand a simple declared state of emergency, place a moratorium on mining, whether legal or illegal, let the water bodies regain their integrity, and then once the water bodies begin to regain their integrity and they’re clean, we would all sit down and talk.”
He was categorical in demanding swift, uncompromising action:
“Nobody is saying, if President Mahama is also putting in place interventions to address the menace of Galam City [galamsey], then some of us, we can slow down. We are not slowing down, but we can take action.”
This hardline stance came in response to a closed-door meeting between President Akufo-Addo and Organized Labour, who had declared an indefinite strike over the government’s perceived failure to address galamsey.
After that meeting, the Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, issued a statement claiming government commitment to tackling the crisis. But Professor Ransford Gyampo was unimpressed.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on October 4, 2024, he criticised the government’s communication strategy, stating:
“Organized Labour is yet to meet with its membership to brief them on what really transpired. So, I don’t think that it lies in the mouth of the Minister of Information to deliberately issue that statement to create the impression that something is being done when Organized Labour has not even briefed its membership. It doesn’t help.”
He accused the government of engaging in propaganda rather than meaningful action:
“Why the indecent haste to break the news, to achieve what? This is a fight against galamsey. It is not about asking for better conditions of service where you can use some of these propagandistic tendencies to try to sway or win public sympathy.”
Fast forward to April 2025, and Prof. Gyampo’s tone appears dramatically altered.
Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints program on March 22, he now strikes a more measured tone—emphasising his support for the fight against galamsey but cautioning against political manipulation of the issue.
“The fight against galamsey is a non-negotiable fight. That is why I get annoyed when people, who yesterday said we should not fight galamsey, I hear them talking that today, because they have lost power, they are calling on some of us to be pushing the government in fighting galamsey.”
He added “I am saying that for some of us, our conscience is pricked by our convictions. Our conscience is not pricked by partisan calls by foot soldiers. We know what to do. At the right time, we will do it. It is not up to you to tell us to go and talk.”
Despite defending his current stance, critics see it as a betrayal of his previous convictions.
Online commentators and political observers have branded his remarks hypocritical, especially in light of his recent government appointment.
One viral post encapsulated public sentiment: “This is Prof. Gyampo of 2024 and the same Prof. Gyampo of 2025. The sudden U-Turn is very troubling and highly unacceptable… Today, he’s appointed by President Mahama, and suddenly he’s an ass kisser—he sees and hears no evil. Unspeakable HYPOCRITE!!”
Still, Gyampo maintains his warped principles. He has called on President Mahama to act swiftly:
“President Mahama, with the greatest of respect, this is the time, at the beginning. Crack the whip, be drastic about the fight against galamsey. Do it now. Not in the next two or three years when your party will be fighting for election.”
–BY Daniel Bampoe
