Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh has slammed the government for paying lip service to the fight against illegal mining as Parliament approves 1.8 billion cedis for the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry.

Speaking during the consideration of budgetary estimates for the Lands Ministry, Frank Annoh-Dompreh wondered why the government would claim it is serious in the fight against illegal mining without setting aside dedicated funding for this fight.

He has been demanding an urgent conversation to make the needed resources available for the Lands Ministry in the fight against illegal mining.

“The big fish here is galamsey, we can’t pretend about it. I’m disturbed. I have gone through the 19-page report, and there is no dedicated expression on galamsey, why?” he said.

He expressed disappointment that the budget meant to cover an entire year, made no clear allocation for fighting illegal mining.

“It is regrettable, totally regrettable. You can’t justify this. I think there should be further engagement, and I will urge the committee to engage the Minister.

"There should be a definite expression for the fight against galamsey, we can’t leave it as it is. In as much as I speak in support of the motion, I think these observations should be teased out, ” he added.