The Majority in Parliament has rejected allegations by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is contributing to the worsening of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The Majority Caucus said the opposition had failed to provide concrete evidence to support its claim that GoldBod’s operations were fuelling illegal mining or undermining efforts to protect Ghana’s forests and water bodies.
The NPP has in recent weeks intensified its criticism of the government’s handling of illegal mining, questioning the effectiveness of measures being implemented to tackle the menace.
At a press conference on Tuesday, August 25, NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye alleged that GoldBod’s operations were contributing to the worsening galamsey crisis.
The Majority dismissed the allegation, insisting that the government had introduced several measures to strengthen the fight against illegal mining.
Speaking to Citi News, Keta MP Kwami Dzudzorli Gakpey cited the training and deployment of water guards, military operations and the deployment of personnel under the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAIMOS) as evidence of the government’s efforts.
He also pointed to recent legislative measures aimed at strengthening the legal framework for mining and protecting environmentally sensitive areas.
“The government is clamping down on galamsey heavily. Look at the water guards; they have been trained, look at the military and NAIMOS being deployed,” Mr Gakpey said.
He acknowledged that the fight remained difficult because illegal mining provides livelihoods and significant income for many people.
“We have to try to find alternatives for people and be moving them there gradually,” he said.
Mr Gakpey also cited recent amendments to mining-related legislation, including provisions requiring mining activities near water bodies and cocoa farms to maintain a distance of 500 metres.
The MP further accused members of the NPP of involvement in illegal mining, referring to the arrest and detention of former Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, over alleged galamsey-related offences.
Mr Gakpey maintained that the government’s approach combines enforcement with efforts to provide alternative livelihoods for people who depend on illegal mining.
He said the measures demonstrate the government’s commitment to tackling galamsey while addressing the economic realities that continue to drive the practice.
