Eco-Conscious Citizens, a non-governmental organization, has expressed frustration over the lack of political will to tackle illegal mining, commonly known as "galamsey," in Ghana.
The group criticized authorities for neglecting their duties and failing to take decisive action to curb the menace.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV, the group's Coordinator, Awula Serwaa, voiced concern over the continuous environmental degradation caused by galamsey activities and urged stronger measures to address the issue. "We can solve it (galamsey) today if the political will were there.
Unfortunately, the political will isn't there," she stated.
She added, "We the people who have a constitutional duty to protect and safeguard the environment have to take action now before we reach the point of no return." She also called for the arrest of Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, following his alleged admission of involvement in illegal mining activities, commonly known as "galamsey" which has destroyed the country's water bodies and forest reserves.
The group, which includes environmental activists and concerned community members, has expressed outrage over the MP's purported confession and is demanding swift action from law enforcement authorities.
The Majority Chief Whip and Nsawam-Adoagyir MP, claimed that the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government polluted water bodies more than the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
Responding to the minority's concerns about the government's failure to tackle the galamsey menace during an emergency sitting of parliament in Accra on Tuesday, September 3, Mr Annoh-Dompreh asserted that an investigation would reveal that the NDC caused more water pollution during their tenure.
Awula Serwaa said duty bearers did not care about the menace as demonstrated by Mr Annoh-Dompreh.
She noted that what Mr Annoh-Dompreh said was an admission of guilt and should be arrested. "I have a view that they (duty bearer) just don't care.
If you saw the recent 'going ons' in parliament where an MP will behave like a kindergarten child and be talking about who has poisoned the waters more than the other.
This is an admission of guilt, and he should be arrested because you are saying that you have not poisoned as much as NDC has." Adding "This is not a competition.
The house is on fire.
We face an existential threat.
We should be solving the problem.
We can solve it today if the political will is there. "Unfortunately, the political will isn't there and we the people who have a constitutional duty to protect and safeguard the environment have to take action now before we reach the point of no return."