Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Jerry Ahmed
The Minority in Parliament has warned that the rebranding of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) into GoldBod is worsening the illegal mining menace, popularly known as galamsey and accelerating environmental degradation across the country.
Contributing to the debate on the 2026 State of the Nation Address on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Jerry Ahmed, argued that the government’s decision to replace PMMC with GoldBod has created confusion, weakened oversight, and inadvertently encouraged illegal mining activities.
According to him, rather than strengthening regulation and enforcement in the gold sector, the government has focused on renaming and restructuring institutions without addressing the real issues on the ground.
“All that this government knows how to do is rebranding. PMMC was changed to GoldBod, and now even the finance minister is giving it another name. What are they doing? They are encouraging galamsey,” he told the House.
Ahmed noted that illegal mining has become widespread, with devastating consequences for forests, water bodies and communities.
He cited growing environmental destruction in several mining areas, including Bole, the hometown of President John Dramani Mahama, where abandoned mining pits have reportedly become death traps for residents.
He warned that galamsey has reached dangerous levels and now poses a long-term threat to national survival.
“If we don’t take care, including yourself, Speaker, you may not be found alive in the next 20 years,” he cautioned, underscoring the severity of environmental pollution and land degradation.
The Minority further expressed concern about the impact of galamsey on critical national infrastructure, particularly hydroelectric power generation.
Ahmed referred to media reports indicating that silt from illegal mining activities is choking the turbines at the Bui Dam, threatening electricity supply.
He described the situation as a national security emergency, accusing authorities in mining areas of turning a blind eye to illegal operations.
“We are trading 24-hour electricity for a few bars of gold. DCEs and MCEs in these mining areas are all involved in galamsey,” he alleged.
Beyond environmental concerns, the Deputy Minority Chief Whip questioned the financial management of GoldBod.
He criticized what he described as misplaced priorities, alleging that while the state incurs massive losses, public officials engage in extravagant foreign trips.
“All we think about is mining gold, selling it, and making profits only to send some sets of women to London to go and chill with them. Speaker, this is what is happening. This is the kind of situation we are dealing with ‘settings’ everywhere under the leadership of President Mahama,” he alleged.
He also raised concerns about the Bank of Ghana’s decision to sell 18 tonnes of gold reserves, describing it as economically reckless. According to him, the gold was sold for US$2.22 billion, only for the state to later announce plans to repurchase the same quantity at a much higher cost of US$3.4 billion.
“Who is taking the US$1.2 billion profit?” he questioned, accusing the government of selling Ghana’s future.
The Minority called on the government to move beyond institutional rebranding and take decisive action against illegal mining, including enforcing existing laws, strengthening regulatory bodies, and holding officials accountable.
Ahmed stressed that without urgent intervention, galamsey would continue to destroy the environment, undermine the economy and endanger lives.
Did you know that there is a fort in Ghana that was not built for slavery? And did you know that it is in Elmina? Watch the story about Fort Jago here:
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