Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku has called on Members of Parliament (MPs) and all Ghanaians to put aside political differences and unite in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
According to the Minister, the growing destruction of farmlands, forests and water bodies by illegal miners poses a serious threat to Ghana’s food security, environment and the future of young people.
Mr Opoku made the remarks when he appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Government Assurances, chaired by Dominic Nitiwul, to respond to assurances he had previously given on the floor of the House.
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Galamsey fight
Responding to questions, the Minister stressed that although the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is leading the fight against illegal mining, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is fully supporting the national effort.
Eliminating galamsey, he said, requires a coordinated approach involving government institutions, Parliament, security agencies, traditional leaders and local communities.
“The fight cannot be won by a single entity. It must be a collective effort,” Mr Opoku stated.
The Food and Agriculture Minister warned that illegal mining continues to destroy fertile agricultural lands and pollute rivers relied upon by farmers for irrigation.
According to him, failure to protect Ghana’s natural resources would have devastating consequences for food production and public health.
“If we don’t protect our lands and water bodies, we cannot continue to promote agriculture. We will eventually be cutting short the lives of our people,” he cautioned.
He said safeguarding agricultural land and water resources is critical to ensuring long-term food security and sustainable national development.
Challenge to MPs
Mr Opoku urged every Member of Parliament to take ownership of the fight against illegal mining in their constituencies.
He noted that every community falls within a parliamentary constituency, making MPs key stakeholders in enforcing laws against galamsey.
“Every community belongs to a constituency, and every constituency has an MP. If we all decide that illegal mining will not happen in our constituencies, we can help bring this problem to an end,” he said.
The Minister urged lawmakers to work closely with security agencies, local authorities and residents to prevent illegal mining activities.
Mr Opoku condemned the tendency to politicise the fight against galamsey, saying the practice undermines efforts to solve a national crisis.
He cautioned politicians against using partisan arguments to shield offenders or shift responsibility.
“Everything is politics in Ghana. People hide behind politics to engage in wrongdoing,” he observed.
The Minister stressed that political leaders would ultimately be judged by their ability to solve national problems rather than assign blame.
“Our success as politicians depends on our ability to deliver for the people. Let us come together and resolve this national challenge once and for all.”
He urged all stakeholders to demonstrate leadership by working collectively to end illegal mining and protect Ghana’s environment for future generations.