Abena Osei-Asare, the former Deputy Finance Minister, has strongly criticised the government’s allocation of just GH¢150 million to combat illegal mining (galamsey).
During the 2026 budget debate, she argued that GH¢150 million funding is woefully inadequate, comparing it to attempting to win a battle with plastic chairs, and would be ineffectual in addressing the problem.
Abena Osei-Asare challenged the government’s stated priority of fighting illegal mining, highlighting that the GH₵150 million allocated to the relevant ministry represents a mere 0.003% of the total budget.
Speaking on the floor of parliament during the 2026 budget debate, Abena Osei-Asare stated, “It [galamsey] threatens our survival. So, Mr Speaker, if something threatens your survival, what are you supposed to do? You are supposed to fight it to make sure you survive,” she said, questioning why a national emergency was being treated as an afterthought.
“How can you fight it when, with a GH¢2.1 billion budget, you only give the agency to fight it GH¢150 million?” she asked.
She accused the government of offering rhetoric instead of action.
The lawmaker added, “Are you telling Ghanaians that you are fighting it, or are you just putting out words and playing with Ghanaians?
“GH¢35 million, just 1 per cent of the Ministry’s allocation,” Abena Osei-Asare added.
“The galamsey menace is a war. If it’s a war, then this budget is telling us that it’s like we are on a battlefield with plastic chairs instead of arms to fight and make sure we win,” she said, describing the allocation as “words that don’t have any meaning.”
“That is when you can tell me that this is really threatening our survival and so you’re doing something about it,” she said.
Also, Peter Lanchene Toobu, the Member of Parliament for Wa West and Vice Chairperson of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, has criticised the GH₵150 million allocated to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
According to Peter Lanchene Toobu, the GH₵150 million for the NAIMOS in the fight against illegal mining is too small.
The lawmaker further asserted that Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, will do something about the allocation to NAIMOS in the 2026 mid-year budget.
The NDC MP is quoted by TV3 as having said, “GH₵150 million for NAIMOS is too small and I’m quite sure the Minister of Finance will do something about it in the mid-year budget”.
Their remarks come after Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister for Finance, has revealed that an amount of GH¢150 million has been allocated to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) in the 2026 fiscal year to fight galamsey.
According to Dr Forson, the allocation demonstrates the Mahama government’s continued commitment to protecting Ghana’s natural environment.
Presenting the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on Thursday, November 13, Dr Ato Forson stated, “An amount of GH¢150 million has been allocated to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) for their activities against illegal mining and forest degradation”.
He added that the GH¢150m allocated will support ongoing enforcement, intelligence, and monitoring operations led by NAIMOS in the fight against illegal mining.
It will be recalled, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, some months ago revealed the staggering potential financial scope of the anti-galamsey effort.
According to the Lands Minister, a comprehensive fight against illegal mining could cost the nation an estimated $10 billion.
The Lands minister is quoted by 3 news to have said, “The fight against galmsey could cost $10 billion”.
NAIMOS was established to coordinate national efforts against illegal mining by integrating the work of security agencies, regulatory bodies, and local authorities.
Watch the video below:
During the 2026 budget debate, Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, the former Deputy Finance Minister, strongly criticized the government's allocation of just GH¢150 million to combat illegal mining.
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) November 18, 2025
She argued that this level of funding is woefully inadequate, comparing it to attempting to… pic.twitter.com/PNU28Ahm3X
