Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has issued a stern warning to Members of Parliament (MPs), suggesting that some of them may be involved in illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey,” or are indirectly promoting it through their actions.
His remarks came during a two-day emergency sitting of Parliament, where MPs discussed the escalating illegal mining problem, which has led to severe devastation of the country’s water bodies.
The session saw heated debates on the negative impact of illegal mining and the repeated failure of successive governments to address the issue effectively. The discussions quickly devolved into a blame game, with both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) accusing each other of contributing to the menace.
Frank Annoh Dompreh, MP for Nsawam Adoagyir and the Majority Chief Whip, accused the NDC of causing more destruction to water bodies through galamsey than the NPP. “If we are to look and investigate both sides of the House (NPP and NDC), I can tell you that the NDC polluted the water more than us. So let’s get matters straight,” he asserted.
This comment was met with strong condemnation from the Minority NDC, whose leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, countered that the situation had worsened under the NPP despite its supposed efforts to tackle the issue.
“If the President has failed to curb illegal mining, he should admit so. And if the Defence Minister has failed in tackling galamsey, they should admit so. It is wrong for him to insinuate and create the perception that someone is making a political statement. The issue is very serious; our livelihood is threatened,” Dr. Forson stated.
Amid the back-and-forth, Speaker Bagbin directed his frustration at the MPs themselves, accusing some of them of being involved in the environmental destruction caused by galamsey. He urged MPs to take the lead in the fight against the illegal practice.
“Who are those participating in the galamsey? If we take a census, some of you will be there, and the people you are talking to are aware. It is not that they are not aware. They are aware that some of you are participating in it,” Speaker Bagbin declared.
In a strong rebuke, he called on MPs to desist from engaging with illegal miners for campaign funds and votes. “So please, first desist from doing it yourself. Don’t go to them for your money for your campaigns. Don’t go to solicit their votes. Let them see your work. Truly, it is a disgrace that we’ve gone this far. Look at the water—it’s horrible,” he stated.
Speaker Bagbin’s remarks highlight the ongoing struggle to combat illegal mining in Ghana, a problem that continues to threaten the environment and the livelihoods of many citizens. His call for accountability among MPs underscores the need for decisive leadership in addressing the galamsey crisis.