Don’t go to illegal miners for campaign funds – Speaker tells MPs
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has suggested that some Members of Parliament may be involved in illegal mining or promote it by their actions.
The Speaker made this statement during a two-day emergency sitting of Parliament, during which MPs discussed the illegal mining problem as the devastation on water bodies has intensified.
The MPs deliberated on the negative impact of illegal mining also known as galamsey, as well as the failure of successive governments to nip the canker in the bud.
Both sides of the house at some point engaged in the usual blame game accusing each other of contributing to the menace.
MP for Nsawam Adoagyir and the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh Dompreh, accused the opposition NDC of causing more destruction to water bodies through galamsey than the NPP.
“If we are to look and investigate both sides of the House (NPP and NDC), I can tell you that the NDC polluted the water more than us. So let’s get matters straight,” he said on Tuesday.
The Minority NDC strongly condemned the comment, with its leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson saying the canker has been worse under the NPP despite its so-called efforts to tackle it.
“If the President has failed to curb illegal mining, he should admit so. And if the Defence Minister has failed in tacking galamsey, should admit so.
“It is wrong for him to insinuate and create the perception that someone is making a political statement. The issue is very serious, our livelihood is threatened,” he said.
But the Speaker of Parliament in response directed his anger at MPs, accusing some of them of being involved in the environmental destruction.
He urged them to lead the way in the fight against galamsey.
“Who are those participating in the galamsey? If we take a census, some of you will be there and the people you are talking to are aware. It is not that they are not aware. They are aware that some of you are participating in it.”
“So please first desist from doing it yourself. Don’t go to them for your money for your campaigns. Don’t go to solicit their votes. Let them see your work. Truly, it is a disgrace that we’ve gone this far. Look at the water horrible,” he stated.
