Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has accused some Members of Parliament (MPs) of being concerned in unlawful mining, often known as galamsey.
Throughout a two-day emergency sitting of Parliament, Bagbin mentioned that sure MPs are both instantly collaborating in unlawful mining or selling it by means of their actions.
He expressed concern that these actions are contributing to the destruction of water our bodies in Ghana.
“Who’re these collaborating within the galamsey? If we take a census, a few of you’ll be there and the folks you’re speaking to are conscious. It isn’t that they aren’t conscious. They’re conscious that a few of you’re collaborating in it,” he acknowledged.
Mr Bagbin additional urged MPs to guide the combat towards galamsey by refraining from partaking in such actions themselves.
He emphasised that MPs shouldn’t search monetary help from people concerned in unlawful mining for his or her political campaigns.
“Don’t go to them in your cash in your campaigns. Don’t go to solicit their votes. Allow them to see your work. Actually, it’s a shame that we’ve gone this far,” he mentioned.
The session additionally noticed MPs from either side of the home blaming one another for the continuing unlawful mining downside.
Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip accused the opposition Nationwide Democratic Congress (NDC) of inflicting extra destruction to water our bodies.
This assertion was met with robust condemnation from the Minority, with their chief, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, arguing that the issue has worsened underneath the Akufo-Addo management.
Nonetheless, Bagbin’s focus was on making certain that MPs set a great instance by not collaborating within the environmental destruction attributable to galamsey.
Unlawful mining, popularly known as galamsey, has been a significant difficulty in Ghana, with current experiences indicating that the apply has led to the destruction of a number of rivers, together with River Ankobra, River Bia, River Pra, and River Tano.
Successive governments have taken a number of steps to eradicate unlawful mining, however the issue persists because of the excessive demand for gold and different valuable minerals.
In March 2023, the Lands Ministry revealed that the Minerals Fee is to put in monitoring units on 4,000 excavators and earthmoving tools as a part of measures to clamp down on galamsey.
Additionally, about 300 river wardens accomplished a 4-week intensive pre-deployment coaching course on the Japanese Naval Command in Tema on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, to organize them to supply safety to the nation’s numerous river our bodies.
Over 20 Chinese language Nationals are presently dealing with prosecution within the numerous courts within the nation.
In October 2022, President Nana Akufo-Addo reiterated his resolve to combat the canker, however the difficulty persists.