The Minority in Parliament has called for a crackdown on financiers behind illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, warning that efforts to combat the menace must go beyond arresting miners operating at illegal mining sites.
The fight against galamsey, the Caucus said, must focus on the wider network that finances and facilitates illegal mining activities, particularly those who provide the capital and resources required to operate mining sites.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin made the call when he led a delegation of the Minority Caucus to engage the leadership of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) on Ghana’s economy, democracy, constitutional governance and other pressing national issues.
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The engagement formed part of the Christian Council’s broader consultations with key institutions on issues affecting the country.
According to him, dealing effectively with illegal mining requires stronger enforcement measures and accountability for individuals and entities that fund or benefit from the destruction of Ghana’s natural resources.
The Minority Leader also linked the galamsey crisis to the country’s water security, stressing the need for urgent action to protect water bodies from further degradation.
The call formed part of a broader discussion on national development challenges during the Minority’s engagement with the Christian Council.
Galamsey has remained a major concern in Ghana, with illegal mining activities blamed for environmental degradation and pollution of water bodies in several parts of the country.
The Minority said efforts to address the problem should therefore include measures capable of identifying and dealing with the financiers and other actors who enable illegal mining operations.
Mr Afenyo-Markin maintained that Ghana’s natural resources must be protected in the national interest and that the fight against illegal mining should not be limited to those found physically working at mining sites.