The Minority on Parliament’s Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources has welcomed the Presbyterian Church of Ghana’s decision to launch a nationwide anti-galamsey campaign, describing it as a timely intervention in the fight against illegal mining.
In a statement titled “The Red Sunday,” the Minority commended the Church for adding its voice to growing calls for urgent action against galamsey, noting that the initiative reflects widespread concern about the deteriorating state of the country’s environment and water bodies.
“The decision of one of Ghana’s most respected religious institutions to dedicate a ‘Red Sunday’ campaign to the fight against galamsey is a clear indication of the depth of concern across the country about the worsening state of our environment and water bodies,” the statement said.
The Minority also expressed concern that despite the current government’s campaign promises to tackle illegal mining, the problem remains widespread.
“As a responsible opposition party, we remind Ghanaians that the current government rode to power largely on the back of strong promises to end galamsey through its Reset Agenda. Yet, in less than two years, the menace persists and, by many accounts, has become even more widespread and destructive,” the statement noted.
The caucus cautioned against politicising the fight against galamsey, insisting that the issue should be treated as a national governance and law enforcement challenge.
“The fight against galamsey must, however, not be reduced to partisan point-scoring. We from the Minority believe that a key step in arresting and sustainably containing galamsey is to deliberately remove it from partisan politics and treat it as a strictly national enforcement and governance issue,” it stated.
According to the Minority, illegal mining has at various times been enabled by politically exposed persons and influential actors, highlighting the need for stronger institutions and stricter enforcement mechanisms insulated from political interference.
The statement further welcomed the intervention of the Presbyterian Church and called on other stakeholders to join the campaign.
“The destruction of our rivers, forests and farmlands is a national crisis that demands a united national response. We therefore welcome the intervention of the Presbyterian Church and call on all faith-based organisations, civil society groups, traditional leaders, the media and concerned citizens to join this collective effort,” it said.
The Minority stressed that beyond public advocacy, Ghana requires strong and apolitical institutions to sustain the fight against illegal mining.
It noted that successive governments have introduced interventions such as Operation Vanguard, GalamStop and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), but argued that changing names alone would not address the challenge.
“While these initiatives have reflected varying levels of commitment, the mere rebranding of enforcement structures is not enough to address a problem of this magnitude,” the statement said.
The caucus proposed that NAIMOS be formalised through the necessary Legislative Instruments (L.I.) to guarantee its independence and continuity.
“What Ghana needs is a sustainable institutional framework that transcends political administrations. In this regard, NAIMOS should be formalised and given structure through the necessary Legislative Instruments (L.I.), which clearly define its mandate, powers, structure, accountability mechanisms, and operational independence,” the statement added.
According to the Minority, such legal backing would help shield anti-galamsey efforts from political interference, ensure continuity across governments and establish a more credible and permanent national response to the illegal mining menace.
