The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has raised alarms over the devastating environmental destruction caused by illegal and unregulated mining activities, warning that Ghana is on the verge of an impending environmental catastrophe.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, October 15, Dr. Forson described the menace of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, as a severe threat to the nation’s future. He stressed that the scale of environmental degradation from galamsey poses an existential crisis for the country.
The Minority Leader pointed to the harmful impact of galamsey on Ghana’s water bodies, with the illegal discharge of toxic heavy metals already affecting the health of citizens. He emphasized that if left unchecked, the environmental damage could lead to long-term consequences that may be impossible to reverse.
“Ghana is on the brink of self-inflicted environmental genocide and destruction,” Dr. Forson warned, calling for immediate and decisive action to curb the menace.
He expressed concern over the rapid depletion of natural resources, highlighting the alarming loss of biodiversity and the widespread land degradation caused by illegal mining activities across the country.
“Let me be quick to say that all is not well with our country. Mr. Speaker, our country is under attack. Ghana is under a threat of an unprecedented spate of illegal, illicit, uncontrolled, and unregulated mining activities,” he lamented, describing the situation as a national crisis.
Dr. Forson also criticized the government, accusing the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration of lacking the political will to combat the menace. He blamed leadership failure and official complicity for allowing the illegal mining activities to spiral out of control, calling it a betrayal of the nation’s future.
“At the heart of this crisis, there is leadership failure, official complicity, and lack of political will by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government and the NPP. Mr. Speaker, to do nothing is no longer an option,” Dr. Forson stressed.
He further urged Parliament to take swift and decisive action, urging lawmakers to pressure the President and Vice President to act immediately before the situation worsens.
As the galamsey issue continues to ravage the environment, Ato Forson’s plea signals a desperate call for intervention before the damage becomes irreparable.