Economist and brother of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, Dr. Cadman Atta Mills, has alleged that his account on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) may be subject to “shadow banning” after noticing a sudden drop in engagement on his posts critical of illegal mining (galamsey) and government policies.

In a post on X on October 22, 2025, Dr. Mills expressed concern that both he and other public figures who have been vocal on environmental issues may be experiencing restricted visibility on the platform.

“I have noticed sudden dramatic drops in my post impressions and likes on X intermittently—with posts on galamsey and Goldbod—and since October 18 on virtually all my posts,” he wrote.

He added that the same pattern was noticed on the account of Koku Anyidoho, a former presidential aide, whose post on the pollution of the Volta River had also suffered unusually low engagement.

Dr. Mills questioned whether the social media platform was being influenced “at the behest of the powers that be” to suppress voices critical of the government.

“I hope and pray that X is not ‘shadow banning’ individuals perceived very wrongly as being ‘anti-government’… that would be most disappointing,” he said.

Renewed Clash With Mahama Over Galamsey

This development follows weeks of public tension between Dr. Mills and the John Mahama-led administration, with the economist persistently criticising the government’s approach to tackling illegal mining.

In a post earlier this month, Dr. Mills accused the NDC government of prioritising partisan loyalty over national interest, arguing that environmental destruction caused by galamsey has reached “a catastrophic level.”

On September 22, 2025, he wrote that “you are not disloyal because you criticise your political party’s policies.”

He insisted that the political culture must evolve to accommodate constructive criticism rather than treat dissenting voices as enemies.

Dr. Mills’s remarks were widely interpreted as a direct response to sections of the NDC leadership and supporters who had branded him as “disrespectful” for publicly questioning President Mahama’s handling of the galamsey menace.

Refusal To Be Silenced

In subsequent posts, Dr. Mills vowed not to be intimidated into silence.

He stated, “I refuse to be silenced on galamsey or other policies because of the patently false claim that I was silent on the misdeeds of the previous government. I wrote volumes.”

He has long argued that both major political parties—the NDC and NPP—have failed to confront the illegal mining crisis due to political and financial interests tied to the trade.

During Mahama’s earlier tenure (2012–2016), rivers such as the Pra, Offin, and Ankobra suffered near collapse due to rampant illegal mining operations.

Despite promises to regulate the sector, politically connected miners operated with impunity.

Dr. Mills has maintained that the situation remains largely unchanged under Mahama’s second administration, describing the government’s recent anti-galamsey initiatives as “cosmetic” and lacking genuine political will.

Rejecting ‘Party Elder’ Label

Reacting to claims that his public criticism amounts to betrayal, Dr. Mills dismissed attempts to brand him as an “NDC elder” who should remain loyal and quiet.

“I am a party member and elderly—very elderly—but I am not ‘a party elder’. Those muzzled creatures belong to the party’s Council of Elders,” he stated bluntly.

This comment struck at the heart of Ghana’s long-standing political culture, where senior members are often expected to defend their party in public, regardless of policy failures.

Dr. Mills insists that such silence is harmful to the democracy and development.

The Broader Context

Dr. Cadman Mills’s outspokenness is not new. Since the passing of his brother, President John Evans Atta Mills, in 2012, he has carved a reputation as a principled critic of both the NDC and NPP establishments.

He has often accused the political elite of sacrificing national interest for electoral advantage.