The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has expressed concern about the government’s establishment of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), warning that its dual role as both a regulator and an operator could be indirectly encouraging illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, January 26, Mr Afenyo-Markin highlighted the ongoing pollution of the country’s water bodies, attributing the worsening situation to the government’s handling of the mining sector.

“Organised labour last year sounded an alarm and indicated that galamsey activities have worsened. This government has failed to provide tangible evidence of its commitment to the fight against galamsey,” he said.

The Minority Leader accused the government of prioritising public relations over effective action.

“It is clear that they are always involved in PR gimmicks, looking at the optics rather than the substance. They are interested in short-term gains,” he stated.

Mr Afenyo-Markin also questioned whether GoldBoD distinguishes between legally mined gold and illicit gold.

“All we know is that they are talking about their success story, the amount of gold, or tonnes of gold, they have purchased, yet they have failed to tell us whether there are measures to tackle illicit gold produced through galamsey activities,” he noted.

He warned that the nation’s future could be jeopardised if decisive steps are not taken.

“We are concerned because the future of this country is at stake, and the earlier this government takes steps to protect the future of Ghana, the better,” he said.