Government has not lost fight against illegal mining – Majority Leader

The Majority Leader in Parliament Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has said the Akufo-Addo-led NPP government has not lost the fight against illegal mining in spite of its complexity and the extreme difficulty in dealing with the menace.

There have been growing concerns about the fight against the menace particularly with the re-arrest and subsequent charges against ‘galamsey’ queen, Aisha Huang for engaging in illegal mining activities.

This has led several Civil Society Organisations and the Minority in Parliament to question President Akufo-Addo’s commitment to fighting the canker.

Speaking on OTEC breakfast show dubbed ‘Nyansapo’ on Monday September 19, 2022 Hon Kyei Mensah Bonsu who is also Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said the government’s intervention to deal with the menace should not be misconstrued as a ploy to get people out of work since small-scale mining sector was recognised as a key component of the country’s mining ecosystem.

"What I can say is that government has not lost the fight against galamsey. The fight against galamsey must continue unabated.

“These activities expose the rivers to all forms of pollution. To overcome this canker requires the commitment of everyone, including the government. In times past, communal labour and volunteerism were effective avenues used by Nananom [chiefs] and local authorities to deal with issues of filth. This noble initiative however seems to be lost on us these days,” he told the programme's host, Captain Koda.