Claim: An X user, Gen Buhari, alleges that ex-Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama promised to pardon jailed illegal miners to allow them to continue with their activities.
Verdict: False. Investigations by JUSTFACT GHANA have revealed that John Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), did not make the alleged claim. In 2020, Mr Mahama promised to grant amnesty to illegal miners jailed because he believed they were not the main culprits. Again, he said the jailed youth had regretted their actions.
Background
An X user (formerly Twitter), Gen Buhari, has alleged that the 2024 Presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, promised to release jailed illegal miners to allow them to continue with their illegal activities.
Writing on X on Sept. 3, 2024, the X user quoted Mr Mahama as saying:
“All those who have been arrested for operating galamsey will be freed to go back and continue with the galamsey.”
Data available on X showed that as of Sept. 6, 2024, the post had received over 33,543 views, 76 comments, 87 reposts, and 274 likes.
Commenting on the post, an X user, Nana B said:
“H3333 awurade…if this man become president again ego pain me ooo Aswearigad.”
Another X user, Mormoore JNR disagreed with the post when he said:
“Why are you guys so dirty like that! Wouldn’t it make sense if the ‘big men’ involved in it are those behind bars instead of those unemployed youth? I doubt if you have that sense in the first place.”
Investigations
An independent investigation by JUSTFACT GHANA has revealed that John Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), did not make the alleged claim.
In 2020, Mr Mahama promised to grant amnesty to illegal miners jailed when he addressed the people of Adum Banso in the Western Region during a campaign tour.
A content analysis conducted by JUSTFACT GHANA showed the ex-Ghanaian leader did not make the alleged comment.
Mr Mahama said when elected in the 2020 general elections, he would pardon jailed illegal miners because he believed they had regretted their actions and were not the actual culprits.
“When we [the NDC] come those arrested and imprisoned, we will give them amnesty to return to their homes. I believe they have regretted their actions, so we will release them and give them a second chance. We will put in place arrangements to improve things and not discriminate as it is being done,” the NDC Presidential candidate said in 2020.
See minutes 43:56 to 44:56, where Mr Mahama said he would pardon jailed illegal miners in the YouTube video posted three years ago.
There is nowhere in the entire video that Mr Mahama stated that he would pardon the jailed illegal miners and return them to continue their illicit activities, as the X user alleged.
The results of a Google keyword search conducted by JUSTFACT GHANA revealed that no reputable media organisation in Ghana reported Mr Mahama as saying he would pardon jailed illegal miners so that they could continue their activities.
See media reports on the subject matter here, here, here, and here.
Conclusion:
John Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), did not promise in 2020 to release illegal miners to continue their illicit activities.
