The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has raised concerns over the government’s establishment of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBoD), cautioning that its dual role as both regulator and operator may inadvertently encourage illegal mining, or galamsey.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, January 26, Mr. Afenyo-Markin pointed to the ongoing pollution of the country’s water bodies, attributing the worsening situation to the government’s handling of the mining sector.
“Organised labour last year sounded an alarm, indicating that galamsey activities have worsened. This government has failed to provide tangible evidence of its commitment to the fight against galamsey,” he said.
He accused the government of prioritising public relations over meaningful action, adding: “It is clear that they are always involved in PR gimmicks, looking at the optics rather than the substance. They are interested in short-term gains.”
Mr. Afenyo-Markin also questioned whether GoldBoD effectively distinguishes between legally mined gold and illicit gold. “All we know is that they are talking about their success story—the amount of gold they have purchased—yet they have failed to tell us whether there are measures to tackle illicit gold produced through galamsey activities,” he noted.
He warned that without decisive intervention, the nation’s future could be at risk. “We are concerned because the future of this country is at stake, and the earlier this government takes steps to protect the future of Ghana, the better,” he said.
, cautioning that its dual role as both regulator and operator may inadvertently encourage illegal mining, or galamsey.){kind=link}