The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has warned that government officials who engage in illegal mining will face arrest, signalling a tougher stance by the Mahama administration against the worsening environmental crisis.

Ayariga made the remark in Parliament after the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, demanded weekly updates from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on the destruction of forest reserves and water bodies.

He said President John Dramani Mahama is committed to allowing the law to take its full course against any appointee found complicit in galamsey activities, contrasting this with what he described as inaction under the previous Akufo-Addo administration.

“Today, any government official found to be aiding and abetting will be arrested,” he said. “Any party official, no matter how high, whether you are at the national level or at the regional level… the president will not say anything. He will allow the due process of the law to deal with you.”

Ayariga argued that the new approach is a departure from past administrations where, in his view, individuals implicated in illegal mining were shielded. He referenced instances where “certain regional chairmen were known to be openly involved in galamsey” and reports by ministers were ignored.

The debate comes amid growing public concern over the rapid degradation of Ghana’s rivers and forests, with both sides of Parliament calling for more decisive action to curb illegal mining.

The Majority Leader assured MPs that the government’s renewed stance will ensure accountability across all levels of political leadership.