Govt rallies MPs for galamsey fight

The Vice-President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called on Parliament to support the comprehensive approach being rolled out by the government to clamp down on illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.

She said since Members of Parliament (MPs) played a crucial role in shaping policies, providing oversight and ensuring compliance within their constituencies, they were better placed to educate their constituents on responsible mining practices.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said 

the massive degradation of swathes of arable land, depletion of forest reserves and the heavy pollution of water bodies through galamsey had dire consequences for the country and needed the involvement of all stakeholders to grapple with.

“As MPs, you are not only lawmakers but also the direct representatives of the people most affected by the impact of mining activities. We have seen the effects of pollution on our water bodies in the very communities we oversee.

“It is, therefore, fitting that we engage in meaningful dialogue and orientation on how we can collectively tackle this national concern,” the Vice-President said.

Conference

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang made the call at a conference organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources yesterday for MPs and other stakeholders to deliberate on the way forward to curb the galamsey menace.

Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang (3rd from left), Vice-president, interacting with Armah-Kofi Buah (2nd from left), Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, after the conference on small-scale mining in Accra. With them are Mahama Ayariga (left), Majority Leader, and Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew (extreme right), former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (2nd from right), Majority Chief Whip, in Parliament. Picture: SAMUEL TEI ADANO

The conference was held on the theme: "Restoring a Culture of Proper Small-scale Mining in Ghana", and brought together MPs, state agencies in the land, water, agriculture and environment sectors, and civil society organisations (CSOs) and researchers to explore workable approaches to decisively halt galamsey.

The conference was in furtherance of the current government's commitment to rally all stakeholders and adopt a multipronged approach to tackle the excesses of galamsey.

Apt theme

Describing the theme of the conference as apt and timely, the Vice-President stressed that the collective approach to the galamsey fight would receive the needed impetus if MPs demonstrated commitment to deal with the illegality.

"As lawmakers, you are the representatives of the people, and we have seen the direct effects of galamsey on the lives and livelihood of the people you represent.

"It is, therefore, befitting that as you deliberate on the issue of galamsey on the environment at this conference, you make the needed commitment to fight and win the fight," she stressed.

Commitment

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the government was committed to saving the natural resources of the country through robust measures, involving all stakeholders.

"The government cannot do it alone, and recognises the role of Parliament, CSOs, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to address the galamsey menace," she added.

While commending the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for the bold steps he had taken so far in the galamsey fight, the Vice-President said it would take overwhelming support from the relevant stakeholders to stem the tide.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang observed that the renewed galamsey fight was not a matter of rhetoric but taking the bull by the horns.

"The choices we make today will determine the kind of Ghana we leave behind for our future generations, so let us leave behind a better environment for them," she said.

Parliament assures

The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, gave the assurance that the MPs would support the government's effort to tackle the galamsey scourge head-on.

"Ghanaians have spoken loudly about what has happened to our environment because of galamsey.

The President has made a pledge to address this environmental crisis, and we need to support the bold steps that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is taking," he said.

The Bawku Central MP further stated that the involvement of MPs in the galamsey fight was a crucial move to curb environmental crime.

"Every mining activity is happening at a geographical space within a constituency, and that is why it is important to rally all MPs to come onboard to help (to) deal with the challenge," he said.

Ruthless approach

Meanwhile, the Lands Minister, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah, sent a strong signal that the government would smoke out all so-called "powerful people" who were behind the illegal mining menace.

He stressed that, unlike the previous approach of arresting "small boys" at mining sites and allowing the "big fishes" who financed galamsey operations to go unpunished, the renewed fight would be taken to the doorstep of the financiers.

"The galamsey fight is no longer about going for the small boys. It is now about going for the big fishes, who are the financiers. We must find, name and shame them, and also let them face the law.

This is why we need our MPs to support the galamsey fight," he said.

Reforms

Mr Armah-Kofi Buah added that some processes had been initiated to reform the licensing and permit-granting regime for mining.

He said proposals were already on his table for the decentralisation of licensing and permit granting to include chiefs and other stakeholders.

The minister also said a committee had been set up with a one-month deadline to present proposals for reforms to the mining industry.