The Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim Oda Constituency, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has urged the government to put an end to illegal mining activities, which he says have gained roots in his constituency.
Mr. Acquah expressed his profound dissatisfaction with the ongoing destruction of lands in the Akim Oda Constituency.
He emphasised that previously, Akim Oda was not associated with mining activities, but now faces a trail of devastation and environmental degradation.
During a panel discussion on the Angel Morning Show (AMS) on Thursday, May 29, 2025, Mr. Acquah claimed that his constituency used to be free from galamsey, yet in the months following his New Patriotic Party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections, illegal mining has proliferated.
“Now the youth have started doing the galamsey business, which I can’t say anything about, and when you see that things are going astray, in the end, it’ll bounce back to me…
“I’m happy that the newly appointed Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) has said he is engaging the Minerals Commission in Oda, and they reported that about 90% of the people working in mining in Oda do not have permits.
“90%!, I didn’t even know that but what I know is that you never saw galamsey in Oda.”
Mr. Acquah further identified potential health consequences, such as kidney failure and cardiac arrest, cautioning that those with pre-existing health conditions may suffer ailments worsened by illegal mining activities.
He has, therefore, called on the government for swift intervention to rescue the good people of Oda from the clutches of illegal mining.
