The Minority on Parliament’s Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources has commended the Presbyterian Church of Ghana’s nationwide anti-galamsey campaign, describing it as a timely intervention.
“The decision of one of Ghana’s most respected religious institutions to dedicate a ‘Red Sunday’ campaign to the fight against galamsey is a clear indication of the depth of concern across the country about the worsening state of our environment and water bodies,” it said in a statement.
In a statement titled “The Red Sunday,” however warned that the current government has fallen short of its own promises to end illegal mining, noting that despite strong campaign promises under the Reset Agenda, illegal mining had persisted and by many accounts worsened since the government took office.
“The current government rode to power largely on the back of strong promises to end galamsey. Yet, in less than two years, the menace persists and has become even more widespread and destructive,” the statement said.
The Minority cautioned against politicising the fight, calling for galamsey to be treated as a national governance and law enforcement challenge rather than a partisan issue.
It also warned against simply rebranding existing initiatives like Operation Vanguard, GalamStop, and NAIMOS, arguing that structural reform was needed instead.
To that end, the caucus called for NAIMOS to be formalised through Legislative Instruments to shield it from political interference and ensure continuity across governments.
“What Ghana needs is a sustainable institutional framework that transcends political administrations. In this regard, NAIMOS should be formalised and given structure through the necessary Legislative Instruments (L.I.), which clearly define its mandate, powers, structure, accountability mechanisms, and operational independence,” the statement added.
It further urged faith-based organisations, civil society groups, traditional leaders, and the media to join the campaign, describing the destruction of Ghana’s rivers, forests, and farmlands as a national crisis demanding a united response.
