The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has sounded the alarm over the severe environmental damage being caused by illegal and unregulated mining activities, warning that Ghana is on the brink of an environmental catastrophe.

Addressing the House on Tuesday, October 15, the Minority Leader painted a grim picture of the nation’s environmental state, describing the illegal mining menace—popularly known as "galamsey"—as a threat to the country’s future.

He added that the criminal discharge of heavy metals into the water bodies is already beginning to have dire consequences on citizens' health.

• Read also: Galamsey: A toxic threat to Ghana’s health, environment and future

“Let me be quick to say that all is not well with our country. Mr. Speaker, our country is under attack. Ghana is under a threat of an unprecedented spate of illegal, illicit, uncontrolled, and unregulated mining activities,” he lamented.

He stressed the urgent need for decisive action, stating, “Ghana is on the precipice of self-inflicted environmental genocide and destruction.”

The Minority Leader expressed deep concern about the rapid depletion of natural resources, highlighting the loss of biodiversity and degradation of land.

“Our beautiful country once called the Gold Coast to underscore the rich mineral deposits God bestowed on us, is becoming a pale shadow of itself. Our lands, with all their rich flora and fauna, are being destroyed by the day,” he said.

He further stated that Ghana is at a crisis point berating the government for the lack of political will to fight the menace.

He therefore urged “the House to rise to the occasion to bring the necessary action to bear on the President and Vice president to act.”

“At the heart of this crisis, leadership failure, official complicity, and lack of political will by the Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia government and the NPP. Mr Speaker, to do nothing is no longer an option.”