By: Ama Gyamfuah
Minority MPs on the Works and Housing Committee have demanded the immediate removal of Lands Minister Samuel Jinapor and his deputies, accusing them of neglecting their duties to safeguard Ghana’s water bodies and rivers from the destructive impact of illegal mining, commonly referred to as “galamsey.”
Vincent Oppong Asamoah, the Ranking Member on the Committee, expressed confidence that dismissing the sector ministers would yield the necessary results.
He explained that dismissal is the most severe consequence a minister could face for underperformance.
“If you have a Lands Minster and two deputies in charge of our lands and forestry and they cannot protect our mineral bodies, the best you can do to them is to sack them and whoever comes, we give them what the presidency intends to see so far as that area is concerned,” he said.
Mr. Asamoah highlighted that even the hometown of Deputy Lands Minister Mireku Duker has not been spared from the galamsey crisis, underscoring the pervasive nature of the issue.
His remarks come in the wake of concerns raised by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) about illegal mining in the Pra River, which has severely impacted their operations, causing a nationwide drop in water production from 70 to 40 percent.
Water supply in the Central Region, including Cape Coast, Elmina, and surrounding areas, has been severely disrupted, leaving residents without water for days.
These illegal mining activities are undermining the Ghana Water Company’s ability to deliver clean and accessible water, posing a serious threat to regional water security.
Amid the escalating crisis, Clifford Braimah, Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company, has recommended the government hand over the responsibility of safeguarding threatened water sources to the military.
Despite increasing calls for action, Mr. Asamoah voiced doubts about the likelihood of such measures being implemented before the general elections.
In the meantime, Water and Sanitation Minister Lydia Alhassan has assured the public that efforts are underway to address the impact of illegal mining on water quality.
“The situation is getting worse by the day. We at the ministry have put measures in place to ensure that the situation minimises”.