The Founder and Leader of the People’s National Party (PNP), Janet Nablah, has called for the immediate dissolution of GoldBod, blaming the state institution for a surge in illegal mining activities and the continued destruction of Ghana’s water bodies.
Speaking in an interview on ABC In The Morning, Nablah argued that the establishment of GoldBod has led to an increase in illegal mining, undermining the efforts to combat galamsey and preserve the country’s natural resources.
“Ever since GoldBod was established, illegal mining has increased,” she stated, expressing concern over the growing environmental degradation and the continued pollution of Ghana’s rivers and water bodies.
According to her, the presence of GoldBod would only make the rivers and other water bodies across the country continue to suffer severe pollution because of the establishment of the agency.
Nablah insisted that dismantling GoldBod would be a critical step toward restoring Ghana’s degraded environment. “If GoldBod is dissolved, our water bodies will improve,” she said, adding that a fresh and more transparent approach is needed to address illegal mining.
She further urged government to redirect its efforts toward stricter law enforcement, community-based monitoring, and stronger penalties for offenders, rather than maintaining institutions she believes have outlived their usefulness.
The PNP founder’s comments add to the growing national debate over the reported $214 million loss incurred by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) under the Gold-for-Reserves programme, and the urgent question of how to tackle illegal mining, an issue that has long posed major environmental and political challenges for successive governments.
