The Minority in Parliament has strongly criticised the government for what it describes as a disheartening betrayal of its promise to confront illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, with urgency.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, May 8, 2025, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin accused the NDC administration of abandoning its bold campaign pledge to impose a state of emergency in order to tackle the growing menace of illegal mining.
“The government’s inaction on illegal mining is not just disappointing, it is a betrayal. While in opposition, the NDC loudly declared that if elected, they would impose a state of emergency to confront galamsey head-on,” Afenyo-Markin said.
He lamented that, 120 days into the new administration’s tenure, not only has the promised state of emergency failed to materialise, but there has also been a complete lack of urgency from a government that once made the issue a national priority.
“Illegal mining continues to devastate our river, poisons our lands, and affects communities. The promised state of emergency has vanished and it is replaced by silence and inaction, while the sector minister shares crocodile tears on national television over the sorry state of our rivers, forests, and farmlands,” he added.
The Minority’s remarks come at a time of mounting public concern over the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining operations, particularly the pollution of vital water bodies and the degradation of forest reserves.
