The Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the government of engaging in “PR gimmicks” in the face of its failed fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
They pointed to the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) as a smart move that could inadvertently promote the menace.
The group made these assertions during a press briefing held on January 26, 2026.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, speaking at the event, raised alarm over the destruction of the country’s water bodies caused by illegal mining.
He criticized the government for failing to confront what he described as the “cancer” of galamsey, despite repeated assurances of decisive action.
According to him, the administration appears more focused on public relations than on implementing meaningful measures.
“Organised labour last year sounded an alarm and indicated that galamsey activities have worsened. This government has failed to provide tangible evidence of its commitment to the fight against galamsey,” he said.
“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,” he stated.
He continued: “All we know is that they are talking about their success story, the amount of gold, or tonnes 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.
“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.
