His plea coincides with mounting dissatisfaction with the government’s unwillingness to stop illicit mining operations that have severely damaged the surrounding ecosystem and communities.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews on Thursday, October 3, Mr Antwi underlined the destructive impact of galamsey on the nation’s water systems, forests, and agricultural regions.
He maintained that the livelihoods of many Ghanaians, especially those in rural areas who depend on these resources for their survival, are seriously threatened by the environment’s ongoing degradation.
Many people are becoming more and more disenchanted with the government’s attempts to resolve the situation, and the lawmaker’s comments speak to their concerns.
Mr Antwi explicitly pointed out that certain government officials have not only failed to enforce current rules properly but have also allowed illegal mining enterprises to flourish under their watch.
According to him, officials who fail to carry out their responsibilities must be held accountable for their inaction.
In order to rebuild public confidence and show that the President is genuinely committed to addressing the galamsey situation, the MP encouraged the President to take their removal into consideration.
“If we know the people doing the illegal mining, if they are party people or political opponents, let’s walk in there and get them arrested and make them face the law. This party will be better served in government than in opposition because of the corrupt or illegal position of certain employees.”
“We are not going to condone it. I am an NPP person and I am not going to sit here and condone an illegality. Something that I have not been part of, why should I come and support or defend it,” he stated.
Other NPP MPs hold the opposite opinion to the Subin MP, arguing that addressing galamsey now will hurt the party’s chances of winning votes in the upcoming general elections.
