The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has raised alarm over the alleged diversion of equipment meant for the District Road Improvement Project (DRIP) for illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on the state of the economy on Monday, July 14, Afenyo-Markin accused the Mahama administration of turning a blind eye to the practice, which he says is worsening environmental destruction across the country.
“Mr. Speaker, if we do not deal with this galamsey issue, money is getting into the hands of people, and they are destroying the environment. In the long run, it is this same economy that will be affected,” he warned.
According to him, the unchecked use of state-owned machinery in illegal mining operations reflects a growing culture of impunity that threatens national development.
He further questioned how the government could sustain economic growth when environmental degradation is directly undermining agriculture and other productive sectors.
“Today, the DRIP machines that are supposed to be for our roads, some people are using them for galamsey, and there is no authority to even reprimand them.
There is impunity,” Afenyo-Markin stressed, calling for urgent government action to protect the country’s natural resources and economic future.
