Former Minister for Defence and Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Dominic Aduna Bingab Nitiwul, has accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of being “neck-deep” in illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, saying the government’s silence and inaction exposes its complicity in the destruction of Ghana’s natural resources.
The opposition lawmaker made these remarks on the floor of Parliament during a heated debate on a statement presented by Akwasi Konadu, MP for Manhyia North, which drew attention to the worsening impact of illegal mining on rivers, forests and farmlands.
In his submission, Mr. Nitiwul said the current administration has failed to demonstrate political will in dealing with the menace despite holding overwhelming power.
“The people of Ghana have given you power, not just power, but overwhelming power. Why are you not arresting the people doing galamsey?
“It is because you are complicit. You are not arresting them because you are the ones doing it,” he charged.
The former Defence Minister alleged that one of NDC’s Member of Parliament had previously been arrested for obstructing security operations against illegal miners, yet the party has continued to blame the opposition for the nation’s environmental crisis.
“Your own MP led thugs to attack security officers because of galamsey. And you have the audacity to accuse us? You are not arresting them because the people doing it are your own,” he added.
Setting the Record Straight
Mr. Dominic Nitiwul’s comments came in response to the member for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, who had accused the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration under ex-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of failing to end illegal mining, despite publicly declaring that he would put his presidency on the line.
Isaac Adongo had claimed that President Akufo-Addo’s statement was made in 2024, but Mr. Nitiwul swiftly corrected him, insisting the declaration was made in 2017, during the early stages of the NPP government’s anti-galamsey campaign.
“Let us set the record straight. President Akufo-Addo came to this House in 2017, not 2024, as Adongo claimed,” Nitiwul clarified.
He further accused the previous NDC administration, led by John DramaniMahama, of allowing galamsey activities to spiral out of control to the extent that AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) was forced to suspend operations in 2014.
“In 2014, AngloGold Ashanti closed down because of galamsey under the NDC. Their communications director died in the field when his pickup ran over him while illegal miners chased him. They lost jobs because of galamsey, and that happened under President Mahama,” he recalled.
Calls for a State of Emergency
Mr.Dominic Nitiwul challenged the NDC government to take bold action by declaring a state of emergency in illegal mining areas and banning all forms of surface mining for at least one year, measures he said were implemented during his tenure as Defence Minister under the NPP administration.
“If you want to fight galamsey, do what we did, we banned all small-scale mining for eight months and later extended it to twelve months. You can do the same if you are serious,” he told the Majority side.
He lamented the devastation caused by illegal mining, describing the situation in galamsey-prone communities as “heartbreaking.”
“If you ever visit a galamsey community, it is not a good sight. You can’t even get clean water to drink. The youth are being destroyed, and cocoa farms are being wiped out,” he said.
Citing a specific case, Mr.Nitiwul disclosed that the cocoa farm of former First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe OseiOwusu, had been completely taken over by illegal miners.
“He cannot even visit his own farm because galamsey operators have seized it. If that can happen to a former Speaker, what about the ordinary farmer in the village?” he asked.
Ban All Surface Mining
In his concluding remarks, Dominic Nitiwul reiterated his call for the government to ban all surface mining for one year, arguing that Ghana’s environment and future generations are at stake.
“Our land is being destroyed, our rivers are poisoned, and livelihoods are being lost. The solution is simple, ban all surface mining. We did it before; you can do it again,” he urged.
The Bimbilla MP emphasised that unless the government takes drastic and immediate steps, the galamsey menace will continue to devastate Ghana’s environment, destroy cocoa farms and deprive communities of potable water.
What AdongoSaid
In a counter-response, Isaac Adongo dismissed Nitiwul’s accusations, insisting that the NPP has no moral right to lecture the current administration on galamsey, given its record in government.
“We are in this country, where people said they would put their presidency on the line, but ended up leaving us with galamsey,” he said.
Mr.Adongo alleged that some officials in the former government benefited financially from illegal mining, using it as a political fundraising tool.
The Bolgatanga Central legislator maintained that the current government under the NDC is taking concrete steps to end the menace, including revoking mining permits in forest reserves and tightening enforcement of environmental laws.
According to him, the ruling government was not interested in pontification but rather implementing solutions and that the laws that enabled people to mine in forest areas are being revoked.
He further accused the opposition of hypocrisy, saying their sudden activism against galamsey is politically motivated.
“Their newfound love for the fight against galamsey is welcome, but Ghanaians remember their path, their actions, and the destruction they caused. They cannot suddenly become holier than thou,” he retorted.
Background
Illegal small-scale mining, or galamsey, continues to pose one of the gravest threats to Ghana’s environment and economy. Despite years of national campaigns, military interventions, and legal reforms, the practice persists, leaving rivers polluted, forests destroyed, and thousands of farmlands abandoned.
The renewed parliamentary exchanges between the ruling NDC and the opposition NPP signal a deepening politicisation of the galamsey fight, even as citizens in mining communities struggle daily with contaminated water and eroded livelihoods.
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
