On October 7, 2024, the Assurances Committee of Parliament brought attention to the severe impact of illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, on Ghana’s water bodies.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the committee’s chairman, presented samples of polluted water taken from 13 rivers and streams to Martin Ayisi, the CEO of the Minerals Commission.
Alarmingly, only the Volta River was found to be unpolluted, while other rivers, including the Subri River, Oda River and River Offin, showed significant degradation due to irresponsible mining practices.
Ablakwa urged Ayisi to reassess the Minerals Commission’s current stance, which opposes the widespread public demand to ban all forms of small-scale mining. He also called for an immediate suspension of recommendations for new mining licenses to the Lands Minister.
The committee expressed concern about the insufficient support the Minerals Commission has been receiving from security services in their fight against illegal mining.
Ayisi reported that despite numerous reports submitted regarding illegal mining activities, including ongoing operations near the Anyinam Police Station in the Atiwa East District, little has been done to address these issues.
He conveyed the Commission’s frustration, noting that many reports have been ignored, allowing destructive galamsey activities to persist without consequence.
In response to the committee’s questions, Ayisi committed to investigating several issues, including reports of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) acquiring mining licenses within their areas. He is expected to present the results of these investigations to the committee in the near future.
