The Minority caucus in parliament has detailed that 17 people lost their lives between January and July 2025 through galamsey activities.
According to the minority, the tragic incidents ia as a result of weak law enforcement and a lack of political will.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament, Deputy Ranking Member on the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Akwasi Konadu, stated, “From January to July 2025, Ghana recorded at least 17 deaths linked directly to galamsey activities. These are not mere statistics; these are Ghanaian lives — breadwinners, mothers, sons, and daughters lost to the reckless pursuit of unregulated mineral wealth”.
“Mr. Speaker, how many lives must be lost before an urgent, decisive action is taken? The prevalence of death and environmental collapse is a direct consequence of ineffective law enforcement, the lack of political will, and, in some instances, the complicity of some state actors and traditional authorities,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Members of Parliament from both the Majority and Minority sides have traded jabs and accusations at each other over successive government failures to fight galamsey.
The minority equated the arrest of an NDC MP to the struggles of the current government to deal with the menace.
Speaking during proceedings on November 5, 2025, the MP for Madina Constituency, Francis-Xavier Sosu, recommended the government for the steps taken so far to combat illegal mining, although he believes more can be done.
Francis-Xavier Sosu stated, “I want to commend the government for the effort made so far, even though I believe more must be done to bring this under control. For instance, the introduction of the Blue Water Guard is a critical intervention. Recently, the LI, which allows mining in forest reserves, has also been revoked.
These are very decisive steps that are being taken to deal with this menace”, he added.
Stephen Amoah was next to join the debate, the MP for Nhyiaeso, accused the ruling NDC of hypocrisy and propaganda in the fight against illegal mining.
He stated, “We had hope, Ghanaians had faith, and they believed in our brothers in opposition, thinking that within the shortest possible time, galamsey would be a thing of the past. But what do we see today? It is even aggravating”.
I will never blame the NDC government. I want to be a good citizen. I’m asking them first to apologise to us and to Ghanaians for lying to us, for the deception, the propaganda, and the lies they told Ghanaians.”
Also, Isaac Adongo, an NDC MP, later blamed the Akufo-Addo administration for fueling illegal mining.
He noted that the former President promised to put his presidency on the line to fight galamsey.
“Mr Speaker, we are in this country where people told us that they had put their presidency on the line and ended up with the presidency at home, leaving us with galamsey.
Mr Speaker, we are making sure that the environments you destroyed will be reclaimed, and you should be clapping for John Mahama for wanting to save your environment,” he said.
Former Defence leader Dominic Nitiwul later joined in the debate, he stated, “ Your own member of parliament, no NPP MP has been accused or arrested because of galamsey, but an NDC MP led thugs, to go and attack security forces because of galamsey, and you have the nerve to accuse us”.
“5000 excavators were being moved at night, why are you not arresting the supposed big people, why are you shielding them? It is because you are complicit”.