The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for urgent and decisive measures to confront Ghana’s worsening illegal mining crisis, warning that the country faces an environmental catastrophe if concrete steps are not taken soon.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday as the House resumed sittings, Afenyo-Markin painted a grim picture of the devastation caused by galamsey across the country, lamenting that Ghana’s rivers and lands have become dangerously polluted.

“Speaker, our rivers run brown with pollution, vast tracts of once fertile land lie scarred and toxic, and many of our citizens in mining communities face illness and danger from poisonous chemicals. We have talked about illegal mining for years, yet the problem has only grown worse. Time for mere talk is over,” he said.

The Effutu MP emphasised that the time had come for “visionary and coordinated action” to protect Ghana’s environment and future generations. He urged government, Parliament, and local authorities to collaborate effectively to reverse the damage caused by illegal mining activities.

Afenyo-Markin reminded the House that the country had long been warned about the dangers of galamsey.

He cited investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas’s 2010 documentary, which exposed the “dark underbelly” of illegal mining and the corruption that fuels it.

His call comes amid growing concern over the continued destruction of Ghana’s water bodies, particularly major rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, and Offin, which have turned brown due to mining-related pollution.

The Minority Leader’s remarks are expected to spark renewed debate in Parliament on the effectiveness of anti-galamsey efforts and the need for a comprehensive, bipartisan strategy to safeguard the country’s natural resources.