The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has taken a swipe at President John Dramani Mahama, accusing him of placing gold over the lives of Ghanaians and the preservation of the country’s water bodies.

In a social media post on Saturday, September 27, the Assin South MP criticised President Mahama for what he described as an insensitive endorsement of illegal gold mining.

He referenced remarks by the President during a press briefing, where Mr Mahama reportedly stated: “gold, whether from illegal or legal sources, at least since it is our environment that is being destroyed, we must enjoy the benefits rather than foreigners enjoying it.”

Rev. Ntim Fordjour argued that under Mr Mahama’s leadership, rivers such as the Ankobra and others treated by the Ghana Water Company have worsened.

He accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of scrambling for forests and rivers to exploit for profit, despite previously promising to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining while in opposition.

The Assin South legislator further challenged President Mahama to honour his own pledge by immediately declaring a state of emergency on illegal mining.

He urged the government to publish daily turbidity levels of all rivers, ban the importation of water, and take decisive action against the menace in line with promises made by members of Mr Mahama’s cabinet.

“It is unconscionable to destroy our river bodies and forests just to make money for your government and party apparatchiks,” he warned, stressing that prioritising gold over livelihoods and the environment would have devastating consequences for ordinary Ghanaians.