The Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the state of legitimising illegal gold mining and worsening environmental destruction, warning that Ghana risks becoming a conduit for illegally mined gold.

In a statement issued on December 22 after a meeting with President John Mahama at Jubilee House, the Minority said weaknesses in the operations of the GoldBod threaten to make the state “a formal purchaser of illegally mined gold from galamsey operations, thereby sanctioning environmental destruction.”

The statement signed by Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, said the destruction from illegal mining has intensified since January 2025, affecting water bodies, forests, and farmlands across the country.

It cited environmental assessments showing “high levels of poisonous metals contaminating our water and soils in small-scale mining areas,” alongside rising river turbidity and forest cover loss.

According to the statement, investigations by media and civil society groups have exposed “a network of collusion involving District Chief Executives, political operatives, and elements of our security forces, which have rather become enablers of this menace.”

The Caucus also questioned the effectiveness of the Blue Water Guards, describing their operations as unable to halt the trail of environmental devastation. It warned that without reform, “Ghana cannot become a state-sponsored conduit for illegal gold.”

Beyond galamsey, the Minority raised concerns over what it described as a broader governance crisis. It expressed alarm at the dismissal of about 2,802 public servants through directives from the Office of the Chief of Staff, calling it “a direct assault on the constitutional principle of an independent and professional civil service.”

The statement linked the dismissals to rising unemployment, noting that with 1.3 million young people out of work, Ghana faces deep social strain.

The Minority also accused the governing party of “weaponising” election petitions to overturn parliamentary results in targeted constituencies. It said this approach turns the courts into tools for “parliamentary engineering” rather than justice.

It further complained of systematic harassment of the Minority Caucus, including efforts to remove its Leader from the ECOWAS Parliament and attempts to sanction him for performing his duties, describing this as “an attack on the institution of opposition itself.”

On the economy, the Minority alleged partisan discrimination in the payment of contractors, claiming that businesses perceived as aligned with the NPP are being denied payment despite budgetary allocations. It warned that this practice “weaponises the economy and destroys jobs.”

The Caucus also criticised the withdrawal of incentives under the One District One Factory initiative, saying factory closures and job losses are mounting, with no clear alternative policy in place.

Concerns were also raised about selective prosecution and punitive bail conditions imposed on NPP officials, while cases involving figures from the previous administration have been discontinued through nolle prosequi. The Minority described this as “justice by party colour.”

The statement warned that youth unemployment has now become a national security threat, cautioning that widespread idleness fuels crime, radicalisation, and instability.

It also flagged growing insecurity across the country, citing rising violent crime, kidnappings, and fear among citizens, which it said reflects a failure of the state to protect life and property.

Finally, the Minority raised alarm over what it described as lingering third-term agenda concerns, urging the President to “publicly, unequivocally, and repeatedly denounce any scheme for a third term or life presidency.”

The statement concluded with a warning that the issues raised form a dangerous pattern that could weaken Ghana’s democracy, stressing that “history will judge this moment.”