The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has made a passionate appeal for urgent and decisive action to address Ghana’s deepening illegal mining (galamsey) crisis, warning that the nation risks an environmental disaster if concrete measures are not implemented immediately.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday as the House reconvened, the Effutu MP painted a bleak picture of the devastation caused by galamsey across the country. He lamented the severe pollution of Ghana’s rivers and the destruction of once fertile lands, describing the situation as a ticking time bomb.
“Mr. Speaker, our rivers run brown with pollution, vast tracts of once fertile land lie scarred and toxic, and many of our citizens in mining communities face illness and danger from poisonous chemicals. We have discussed illegal mining for years, yet the problem continues to worsen. The time for mere talk is over,” he declared.
Afenyo-Markin stressed the need for “visionary and coordinated action” to protect the environment and preserve the future of Ghana’s next generations. He called for stronger collaboration between government, Parliament, and local authorities to curb the menace and restore affected ecosystems.
The Minority Leader recalled that warnings about the dangers of galamsey were raised long ago, referencing investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas’s 2010 exposé that revealed the corruption and exploitation driving illegal mining.
His remarks come amid rising public concern over the continued degradation of water bodies such as the Pra, Ankobra, and Offin rivers, which have become heavily polluted by mining activities.
