The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources has welcomed the Presbyterian Church of Ghana’s nationwide anti-galamsey campaign, describing it as a timely intervention in the country’s fight against illegal mining.
According to the Minority, the involvement of one of Ghana’s most respected religious institutions reflects the growing national concern over the worsening destruction caused by galamsey activities.
In a statement read on the floor on Wednesday, Hon Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, Member of Parliament for Mampong, commended the Church for dedicating a “Red Sunday” campaign to raise awareness about the devastating effects of illegal mining on Ghana’s environment and water bodies.
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He noted that the current government came to power on the strength of promises under its Reset Agenda to end illegal mining.
However, he argued that nearly two years into its administration, the galamsey menace remains widespread and, by many accounts, has become even more destructive.
The Minority stressed that the fight against illegal mining must not be reduced to partisan politics but treated as a national enforcement and governance issue.
It also acknowledged that politically exposed persons and other influential actors have, at various times, enabled and sustained the illegal mining enterprise.
Describing the destruction of rivers, forests, and farmlands as a national crisis, the Hon. Ampratwum-Sarpong called on faith-based organisations, civil society groups, traditional leaders, the media, and citizens to join forces in confronting the menace.
He argued that public advocacy alone would not be enough to defeat galamsey, insisting that Ghana needs strong, enduring and apolitical institutions to tackle the problem.
He observed that successive governments have introduced anti-galamsey interventions under different names, including Operation Vanguard, GALAMSTOP, and the current National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
While these initiatives demonstrated varying levels of commitment, the Mampong MP said merely rebranding enforcement structures would not solve the crisis.
The caucus therefore proposed that NAIMOS be formalised through the necessary Legislative Instruments (L.I.) to clearly define its mandate, powers, structure, accountability mechanisms, and operational independence.
According to the Minority, providing legal backing for NAIMOS would help insulate the fight against illegal mining from political interference, ensure continuity across governments and establish a credible and permanent national response to the galamsey challenge.
The statement was signed by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Mampong, Hon. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong.