Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has issued a stern warning to Members of Parliament, stating that any legislator caught engaging in illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, will face severe repercussions.
Addressing the plenary on Tuesday, January 28, Speaker Bagbin emphasized the need for Parliament to take a firm stance against the growing galamsey threat, which has caused widespread environmental devastation across Ghana.
“Honourable members, galamsey must be confronted head on. If any of you happen to be involved in galamsey, please advise yourself. You must be prepared as a house to bite the bullet. We must lead and show the way. And please, if I get any information that any of you is involved in galamsey, we will start taking the necessary action from the House,” Speaker Bagbin remarked.
The Speaker’s warning comes amid growing concerns over the devastating impact of galamsey on Ghana’s environment, particularly its water bodies and forests.
The fight against illegal mining has been a longstanding challenge, with successive governments introducing various measures to curb its effects.