By Yaw Acheampong Boafo, President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), has called on the government to strengthen its efforts against illegal mining, or galamsey, by targeting the influential individuals believed to be driving these activities.
Speaking at the 2024/2025 Annual General Conference in Kumasi on Monday, September 9, Boafo emphasized the urgent need for decisive action to address galamsey, which has caused significant harm to the environment and local communities.
“…The anecdotal evidence that galamsey is controlled by a powerful interest in Ghana cannot be ignored. The state must be honest and deal with the real powers behind this menace,” he stated.
Boafo also used the occasion to criticize recent remarks by Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri. Annoh-Dompreh had alleged that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) polluted more water bodies during their time in office compared to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Describing the remarks as “irresponsible,” the GBA President called for national unity in addressing the issue of illegal mining, rather than turning it into a partisan issue.
Boafo condemned the politicization of this crucial matter, stressing the importance of collaboration in tackling the galamsey crisis.
“It was quite shocking and most regrettable when a member of the leadership of parliament on the floor of parliament stated that the minority party during this period in government polluted the waters of Ghana more than the ruling party.”
“Such an irresponsible statement by a member of parliament is symptomatic of the malaise affecting our dear nation. Every issue must be reduced to partisan point-scoring by a parallel nation’s police drive.”
Boafo’s comments come amid ongoing concerns about the significant threat illegal mining poses to Ghana’s water bodies and natural resources, with increasing calls for a more vigorous crackdown on those responsible.
