The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has alleged that some Members of Parliament may be involved in illegal mining which is also known as ‘galamsey’.
He says the actions of some of the legislators promote the canker, with some of them going to the miners to demand money to finance their campaigns.
Addressing the House during its two-day emergency sitting at the Accra International Conference Centre, the Speaker on Tuesday, September 03, 2024, noted that it is rather the lawmakers who are supposed to lead the way in fighting the menace rather than fueling it.
The House was discussing the illegal mining problem which has been on the rise as the devastation on water bodies has intensified.
“Who are those participating in the galamsey? If we take a census, some of you will be there and the people you are talking to are aware. It is not that they are not aware. They are aware that some of you are participating in it.”
“So please first desist from doing it yourself. Don’t go to them for your money for your campaigns. Don’t go to solicit their votes. Let them see your work. Truly, it is a disgrace that we’ve gone this far. Look at the water horrible,” he stated.
During the debate, the House deliberated on how the problem is affecting the country with successive government’s failing to tackle the matter.
The blame game syndrome took centre stage when Majority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, said that the opposition NDC supervised more destruction of water bodies than the NPP.
“If we are to look and investigate both sides of the House (NPP and NDC), I can tell you that the NDC polluted the water more than us. So let’s get matters straight,” he said.
But the Minority rejected the claim saying the NPP has damaged Ghana’s water bodies more than the nation has experienced over the years.
Caucus leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, indicated that: “If the President has failed to curb illegal mining, he should admit so. And if the Defence Minister has failed in tacking galamsey, should admit so.
“It is wrong for him to insinuate and create the perception that someone is making a political statement. The issue is very serious, our livelihood is threatened,” he said.
Source:onuaonline.com