Parliament to partner with the media in fighting galamsey

The Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon. Professor Mike Ocquaye has stated that, the Parliament of Ghana will join force to fight illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey.

According to the Speaker, the collaboration is a one that is going to last forever to eradicate illegal mining activities across the country.

He further added that, the joint act is also as part of the 25 years celebration of uninterrupted Parliamentary democracy and the issue will be discussed as major agenda at the next Board Meeting of Parliamentary services.

He further said that, the agenda will be formalised at the meeting.

This partnership against illegal mining, again, he said, will become an integral part of activities marking 25 years of Ghana's uninterrupted parliamentary democracy.

He made the statement when members of steering committee of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey visited him on wednesday April 25.

He further added that the 1992 constitution enforces that all citizens should uphold the right to life of every individual, also made conditions for the protection of such rights, hence no member of society should be allowed to deny others such rights to life through illegal mining activities.

The Speaker went ahead to say that he is worried that Ghana's number one foreign earner, cocoa; while water, which is equivalent to life and the environment, are under serious attack from galamsey activities.



He stated that parliament needs the collaboration of advocates such as the Media Coalition to help achieve results in the fight against galamsey.

He also called for sustained public education to enable the citizenry appreciate what galamsey is all about, to help fight the canker, with the support and involvement of all.

A member of the Steering Committee of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Ken Ashigbey, said the visit was to brief the Speaker about the Coalition's observations so far and solicit parliament's support and involvement as a key stakeholder-institution in the fight against illegal mining.

According to him, the galamsey menace is a result of leadership failure at all levels of our national life.

In Mr Ashigbey’s view, the lack of political will, failed law enforcement, the lack of effective and deterrent justice delivery, failure on the part of the media, the general lack of cohesion among stakeholders, lack of involvement of the local people and the culture of non-involvement of local chiefs, are reasons the country is still grappling with galamsey.

Mr Ashigbey said the solution to the galamsey menace is multifaceted and commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for demonstrating political will against galamsey through the efforts of Operation Vanguard, which, he said, have done significantly well in controlling the menace.

However, the group noted that lack of prosecution of offenders will dampen the morale of the security services.

They also urged government to supply night vision goggles; modern technology and the needed resources to enable Operation Vanguard win the battle on a sustainable basis.