Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has issued a strong challenge to his colleague Members of Parliament (MPs), accusing some of them of merely paying lip service to the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Addressing the House on Friday, Mr. Ayariga questioned the sincerity of MPs who publicly condemn galamsey but have failed to take concrete steps to tackle the menace in their own constituencies.
He stressed that as leaders and representatives of the people, MPs bear a direct responsibility to address illegal mining activities at the local level.
“Charity begins at home,” he emphasized, urging MPs to demonstrate their commitment by first acting within their own constituencies.
The Majority Leader called on MPs to be ready to account for the measures they have personally initiated to combat galamsey in their areas. According to him, it is not enough to criticize the phenomenon on national platforms without backing words with action on the ground.
He noted that legislators can and should collaborate with key stakeholders including local authorities, the police, and traditional leaders , to curb illegal mining operations that are destroying water bodies, farmlands, and the environment.
