The Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Committee of Local Government and Rural Development, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has raised concerns that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) may be undermining Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

Speaking on JoyNews’ National Dialogue on Thursday, February 12, during a discussion on whether MMDCEs have become the weakest link in the anti-galamsey campaign, the Akim Oda Member of Parliament said developments at the district level suggest troubling contradictions in the enforcement effort.

“Yes, we [Minority] are concerned. We’ve been concerned since September, when in my own constituency there was a similar incident,” he said.

According to him, the Minority in Parliament held a press conference at the time and called for the interdiction of the Municipal Chief Executive involved, but no action has been taken.

“The Minority picked it up and had a press conference and called for the interdiction of the MCE and up to now, the MCE is still in office,” he stated.

Mr Acquah disclosed that he had evidence suggesting that some assemblies were issuing receipts to illegal miners under the guise of fines.

“I have a receipt that was written by my assembly for an illegal miner, and the receipt bears the fact that this is a fine on illegal mining,” he revealed.

He argued that such actions blur the line between enforcement and endorsement.

“If the assemblies cannot levy people who are involved in an illegal activity, then I think that settles it. What is happening is that the various assemblies are almost legitimising these illegal activities, under the guise that we want money, we are making money for government," he said.

The lawmaker expressed surprise that, despite significant funds reportedly being disbursed to assemblies to support their operations, some continue to engage with illegal miners.

“We hear quantums of money that have been sent to the various assemblies for their activities. So why would an assembly facilitate illegal mining when all of us have been fighting against it?” he asked.

He also pointed to recent comments by the Presiding Member of the Amansie Central District Assembly, who reportedly defended such actions as lawful.

“We have the Amansie Central Presiding Member pushing back, saying this is legal and something they’ve been doing. But why would they facilitate illegal mining when all of us think this menace must be stopped?” he queried.

Mr Acquah stressed that illegal mining largely occurs in rural areas, where MMDCEs wield significant authority as heads of the District Security Councils.

“These things don’t happen in Accra. They happen in the countryside. And when you go there, the assemblies are headed by the MCEs or DCEs. They are the heads of the security council,” he noted.

He explained that security operations at the local level often require the sanction of the MMDCE.

“Even before the police and the security agencies take any action, it must be by the sanction of the MCE because they head the security council,” he said.

On the back of this, the Akim Oda MP expressed doubt about the country’s ability to decisively curb illegal mining under the current structure.

“I do not have any confidence this menace can be stopped anytime soon, especially as we continue to give that authority to the local assemblies and the various MMDCEs,” he concluded.