The Minority in Parliament has urged the House to adopt a formal decision compelling the Lands Ministry to present weekly updates on illegal mining commonly referred to as galamsey, saying the crisis demands “more than ordinary parliamentary action.”
The request followed heated exchanges between the Majority and Minority caucuses last Friday as the lawmakers grappled with delays in the submission of government budget estimates and the worsening environmental devastation caused by illegal mining (galamsey).
The discussions, which began as a routine response to the Business Statement, evolved into a broader interrogation of the government’s commitment to fighting galamsey and managing parliamentary workload.
The Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, took to the floor shortly after the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, presented the Business Statement for the coming week.
While acknowledging the Majority Leader’s efforts, Mr Annoh-Dompreh raised concerns about the slow pace at which ministries and agencies were submitting their expenditure estimates for committee scrutiny, a development he warned would delay the House’s consideration of the national budget.
Galamsey crisis dominates debate
But it was the escalating galamsey crisis that dominated much of his submission.
Against the backdrop of widespread reports of polluted rivers, destroyed farmlands, and heavy metal contamination in food crops, Mr Annoh-Dompreh reiterated his earlier call for weekly parliamentary briefings by the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry.
“We are reading disturbing reports—our water bodies are getting worse, our lands are being destroyed, and now scientific evidence shows heavy metals in our food. We cannot treat this casually,” he said.
He stressed that his call was not partisan, but a patriotic duty.
“Galamsey is killing us. This is not about NDC or NPP. Our food, our water, our future—everything is at risk.”
The Minority Chief Whip insisted that the Lands Ministry must appear at least once a week, not merely to read statements but to report on progress, setbacks, enforcement activities, and strategies.
“The Ministry should not come here with long speeches. We must give them a template—clear, measurable indicators such as turbidity levels of water bodies. That is how we can objectively assess whether the fight against galamsey is working.”
Recurring delays in budget cycle
Parliament’s budget cycle has in recent years been marked by persistent delays in the submission of estimates from government ministries.
In many previous sittings, committees were forced to work late into the night or rush through critical reviews due to late submissions, a situation some MPs say undermines fiscal oversight.
This year appears no different. According to Mr Annoh-Dompreh, only 15 out of approximately 41 estimates had been received as of Friday, an improvement over previous years but still inadequate given the tight legislative calendar.
“Fifteen estimates are good progress, but it is far below what is required. The delays are contributing to the backlog of motions and referrals before the House,” he lamented.
Majority Leader’s position
Responding earlier, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga had assured Parliament that the government was committed to combating illegal mining and would not shield any official found complicit.
He noted that the President would allow due process to take its course against any wrongdoing by party or government officials.
By Daniel Bampoe
