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The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for a united national front in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the issue of galamsey should not be treated as a political matter between the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), but rather as a problem that affects the entire country. “The issue of galamsey calls for collective action, it is not an NDC or NPP affair, but a Ghana affair,” he said. He expressed concern about the destruction of the environment and the rising number of deaths linked to illegal mining activities. According to him, it has become “business as usual,” with no serious effort to stop the menace. Mr. Afenyo-Markin urged politicians to put the national interest above electoral gains, warning that ignoring the problem for fear of losing votes could lead to more loss of lives and environmental damage. He further called for a non-partisan national discussion on the matter, saying Parliament must send a strong message that enough is enough with political divisions on issues of national importance. The Minority Leader ended by expressing hope that Parliament would soon dedicate time to have a full debate on galamsey and propose lasting solutions. By: Jacob Aggrey
