The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of engaging in political theatrics rather than demonstrating genuine commitment to ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Minority Caucus described the government’s recent meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as a “publicity stunt” aimed at diverting public attention from its ineffectiveness in tackling the escalating environmental crisis.
“It is obvious that the galamsey menace keeps worsening by the day. We are, therefore, surprised that amid increasing turbidity levels, the President of the Republic could look into the eyes of Ghanaians and tell us he is winning the fight against illegal mining,” the statement said.
The Caucus called on President John Dramani Mahama and his administration to show “real political will” instead of relying on what it termed “propaganda and publicity gimmicks.”
“Ghanaians can no longer be subjected to optics in place of substance. The nation requires competent and effective governance in the public interest,” the statement added.
The Minority also appealed to CSOs, religious bodies, traditional authorities, and the general public to demand greater accountability from government in the ongoing anti-galamsey campaign.
They urged stakeholders “to speak out, just as they did in times past, in defense of our collective national interest.”
In defending their position, the Minority pointed to the previous Akufo-Addo administration’s initiatives between 2017 and 2020, which they said produced tangible results in controlling illegal mining.
They cited the imposition of a six-month moratorium on small-scale mining — later extended to 18 months — and the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) as key interventions.
They also referenced the launch of Operation Vanguard, a security task force that worked with the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, to promote responsible mining practices. Over 4,000 small-scale miners were trained under that programme, while amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) strengthened penalties for illegal mining offences.
The Minority argued that the current administration has failed to build on those gains, leading to renewed pollution of major rivers and forests across the country.
“Government must stop the talk and act decisively. Our water bodies and environment cannot survive another round of political gamesmanship,” the statement concluded.
