The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has said that some Members of Parliament (MPs) in mining communities are being overpowered by wealthy illegal miners.
According to him, several MPs are aware of those behind the illegal mining activities but are reluctant to act because the perpetrators use their wealth to influence the system and even fund political opponents against them.
“The good thing is that, the people who must act will tell you that they know the problem, so the politicians, the MPs who are here for example, are being candid and honest, and I can understand them. They say, look, you go to the constituencies and the people with the money are the galamseyers.
“So if the church is organising fundraising, the biggest donors are the galamseyers in the community, and the MPs will say, look, we sit there and we feel embarrassed because the galamseyer will come and give out GH¢100,000 and you, the MP, all you can give out is your GH¢10,000 or GH¢5,000,” he claimed.
He added that “The MPs are even talking about a situation where if you dare fight it, they will sponsor your exit, they will sponsor for you to lose the next election. So this is the situation.”
Mr Braimah made these remarks on JoyNews’ AM Show on Wednesday, following the MFWA’s recent stakeholders’ engagement on illegal mining in the Eastern Region, which brought together traditional leaders and other key actors.
He stressed that the only way to win the fight against galamsey is through honesty, sincerity, and decisive action from traditional authorities, who play a central role in managing community lands.
“I am saying the people who can deal with the issue are the chief. I don’t want to mention specific names but we all do know that there are chiefs in this country (who) when they pronounce that from tomorrow or next week, if you think you own the land, go and do galamsey, but if you know I am the owner of the land, I am saying that from tomorrow or from next week, no mining on my land, it will happen, but otherwise the rest of it is just talk. NPP will say its NDC and NDC will say it’s the NPP.”