The Minority Caucus on the Committee on Lands and Natural Resources has accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of allowing illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, to thrive unchecked, particularly in the constituencies of key government officials.
In a press conference held on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Parliament House in Accra, the Ranking Member of the Committee, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, who is also the Member of Parliament for Mampong Constituency, highlighted what he described as “state failure” in combating galamsey, pointing fingers at the Ellembelle and Bole Bamboi constituencies.
According to Ampratwum Sarpong, Ellembelle, represented by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and Bole Bamboi, represented by the Deputy Minister, and formerly by the President of the Republic, have become entrenched hubs for illegal mining activities.
This is not an abstract concern. Reports from mining-affected communities point specifically to the Ellembele Constituency, represented by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and the Bole Bamboi Constituency, represented by the Deputy Minister, which was formally represented by the President of the Republic, as areas where illegal mining activities have become deeply entrenched. These areas are now headquarters of galamsey. Farmers are losing their livelihoods, water bodies are suffering chemical contamination,” he said.
The Minority’s assessment, delivered as Parliament proceeded on recess at the end of the Third Meeting of the First Session, focused on two main areas: the persistent challenge of galamsey and the handling of the Barari DV lithium agreement.
On galamsey, Mr Ampratwum Sarpong acknowledged a positive step by the Judiciary, which has assigned three High Court judges to oversee cases submitted by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Squad (NAIMOS).
“This is a welcome step. It shows that the Judiciary is ready to do its part in the fight against illegal mining. We commend this action,” he said.
However, he lamented the weak enforcement on the ground, citing recent incidents where NAIMOS officers were attacked by illegal miners, leading to damaged equipment and disrupted operations.
“In some instances, illegal miners were arrested and two days after, they returned to the same site to continue their activities. This points to weak prosecutions and ineffective enforcement, and it emboldens illegality,” the MP added.
The statement further alleged that several NDC bigwigs and some Members of Parliament on the Majority side are linked to illegal mining, with no arrests, investigations, or sanctions despite these being “open secrets” at the community level.
“Instead, the small-scale miners, the foot soldiers, are the ones who occasionally face the law while the big fish swim free,” Mr Ampratwum Sarpong charged, describing this as “selective enforcement” that betrays the fight against galamsey.
He called out the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for failing to ensure consistent enforcement, thorough investigations, and vigorous prosecutions, especially when party affiliates are involved.
“This is outrageous. This is unacceptable. And the people of Ghana are watching,” he emphasised.