Deputy General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, has called for the immediate revocation of mining licenses held by politically exposed individuals involved in galamsey operations.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on October 13, Dr Otoo revealed that some politically connected figures from both the governing and opposition parties are deeply involved in illegal mining, also known as galamsey, and are profiting from the destruction of Ghana’s water bodies and forests.

He cited specific cases uncovered during a TUC fact-finding mission to assess the impact of galamsey on water treatment plants in parts of the Central and Eastern Regions.

“In Anum Apapam, we were told, somebody called Robert Lamptey, who has a license for small-scale mining in Anum Apapam and its environs, where he has a concession.

"What he does is that if I want to mine and acquire a land, I go and see him, and he covers me with his license, and I pay money to him. I pay about GH¢70,000 to him. And then every week, whatever I make from that galamsey activity, I give him about 30% of it,” Dr Otoo disclosed.

According to him, the problem extends beyond partisan lines, as politicians from both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been implicated in the illicit mining trade.

“That Robert Lamptey is an NPP person who, since after the NPP lost the election, is now in collaboration with Chairman BB, who is the NDC chairman for Akwatia, who is now actively holding the license and doing the mining,” Dr Otoo revealed.

He stressed that the activities of such individuals are not only illegal but are contributing significantly to the pollution of the Ayensu River and the destruction of the Ayensu Forest, which are vital ecological and water resources.

“These individuals, somebody must revoke their license because they are mining and actually working with people mining on the Ayensu River and in the Ayensu Forest,” he urged.

The TUC’s concern follows growing fears that Ghana could soon face a nationwide water shortage if illegal mining continues unchecked.

The country’s largest labour union recently conducted a fact-finding mission to evaluate the condition of key water treatment plants in Kwanyako, Brim, and Akyem, where they discovered the devastating effects of polluted water sources caused by galamsey operations.

Dr Otoo’s revelations add a political dimension to Ghana’s escalating environmental crisis, raising serious questions about accountability and the enforcement of mining laws.

His call for the withdrawal of licenses from politically connected operators highlights the TUC’s stance that the fight against galamsey cannot succeed without decisive action against those abusing their political influence for personal gain.