Akyem Oda MP urges religious organisations, organised labour and civil society groups to sustain pressure on government as illegal mining threatens Ghana’s environment
The Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has challenged the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other professional bodies to renew their advocacy against illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.
He questions what he has described as the apparent silence of some groups that previously mounted intense pressure on the Akufo-Addo administration to take decisive action against illegal mining, warning that the fight must not lose momentum under a different political administration.
Mr Acquah, a former Deputy Minister of Health, also commended the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for maintaining its campaign against galamsey and called on other religious denominations to join the effort to protect the country’s water bodies, forest reserves and other natural resources.
In a statement shared on social media, the Akyem Oda MP expressed hope that other Christian denominations would emulate the Catholic Bishops’ commitment to the campaign.
“The Catholic Bishops have been consistent with their fight on galamsey. I only hope that other denominations will also add their voice to it. We dare not get tired at this point,” he said.
He further questioned the apparent lack of similar public pressure from organised labour and civil society groups, recalling the threats by the TUC and other labour organisations to shut down the economy over the galamsey crisis before the December 2024 general election.
“The neutrals, the CSOs, the TUC, which threatened to shut the economy when we were in power, we are watching closely,” he stated.
His comments appear to challenge the consistency of public advocacy against illegal mining, particularly among institutions that previously demanded urgent government intervention and threatened industrial action over the environmental destruction associated with the practice.
Mr Acquah maintained that the fight against galamsey should remain a national priority, irrespective of the political party in power, and called for sustained pressure on government and relevant institutions to address the problem.
The MP’s remarks come amid renewed calls by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for more decisive action against illegal mining.
On October 9, 2026, the Bishops renewed their demand for the declaration of a state of emergency in areas severely affected by galamsey, citing the threat illegal mining poses to public health, water resources, food safety and livelihoods.
The President of the Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, called for stronger interventions to address the scale of environmental destruction.
On October 27, 2026, the Conference again raised concerns about the sustainability of Ghana’s dependence on gold production when mining activities continue to undermine agricultural lands, contaminate water bodies and threaten public health.
Mr Acquah in his social media post praised the Bishops for maintaining their position and urged other religious organisations to contribute more actively to the campaign.
His appeal reflects growing concerns about the need for a united national response involving religious institutions, traditional authorities, civil society groups, organised labour and political leaders.
The Akyem Oda MP’s criticism of the TUC and organised labour is rooted in the pressure they mounted on the Akufo-Addo administration in September and October 2024 over the deteriorating galamsey situation.
On September 11, 2024, Organised Labour, led by the TUC, issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding urgent measures to combat illegal mining and threatening nationwide industrial action if its concerns were not addressed.
The demands included the declaration of a state of emergency in galamsey-affected areas, an immediate halt to mining activities in forest reserves and the revocation of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulation, 2022 (L.I. 2462).
The labour unions also called for the withdrawal of mining licences granted in protected forest reserves and the establishment of special courts to facilitate the prosecution of individuals involved in illegal mining.
Following dissatisfaction with the government’s initial response, Organised Labour announced plans for a nationwide strike scheduled to commence on October 10, 2024.
However, the planned industrial action was suspended on October 9, 2024, after the government gave assurances that it would address the concerns raised by the labour movement.
The commitments included action towards revoking L.I. 2462, redeploying security personnel to tackle illegal mining and engaging organised labour and presidential candidates on measures to address the crisis.
The ultimatum formed part of a broader campaign involving CSOs, professional associations, religious leaders and environmental activists, who were demanding stronger action to prevent further destruction of the country’s natural resources.
Illegal mining remains one of Ghana’s major environmental and governance challenges, with its effects extending beyond the destruction of land and vegetation to the pollution of water bodies and the potential exposure of communities to hazardous substances.
Major rivers, including the Pra, Birim, Ankobra and Offin, have faced serious pollution concerns associated with mining activities.
The use of mercury and other harmful substances in mineral processing has heightened concerns about the quality of water available to communities and the environmental consequences of prolonged contamination.
The increasing use of excavators and other heavy-duty equipment in illegal mining operations has also raised concerns about the scale and sophistication of the activities, making enforcement efforts particularly challenging.
The resulting degradation of forest reserves, agricultural lands and river systems has implications for food production, public health, livelihoods and the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s natural resources.
Against this background, Mr Acquah believes stakeholders who previously demonstrated strong opposition to galamsey must sustain their advocacy and hold successive governments accountable for their commitments.
His comments have also renewed attention on the role of organised labour, religious bodies and civil society organisations in ensuring that the fight against illegal mining remains a national concern rather than a campaign driven primarily by political circumstances.
For the Akyem Oda MP, the environmental consequences of galamsey demand continued vigilance, collective responsibility and sustained pressure on authorities, regardless of political affiliation.
By 1960news.com
