Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has announced an investigation into a petition against a Member of Parliament (MP) accused of involvement in illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
Speaking at a conference on Wednesday, February 26, where MPs and stakeholders finalized a strategy for responsible small-scale mining, Bagbin emphasized that Parliament would not shield any lawmaker implicated in destructive mining activities.
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“There’s a petition before me concerning an MP, and I have initiated an investigation. The member himself has appeared before me on that. We are not going to countenance it at all,” he disclosed.
Bagbin made it clear that Parliament will not tolerate any legislator found complicit in illegal mining, regardless of their position. “Let me be unequivocal in stating that Parliament will not tolerate any MP who is found to be complicit in destructive mining activities,” he stated.
He further stressed the importance of lawmakers setting the right example in upholding accountability and integrity. “As lawmakers, we must lead by example. Any MP caught engaging in or facilitating this type of existential threat to our lives will face the full rigours of the law—and I mean what I say,” he warned.
Speaker Bagbin reiterated that Parliament cannot advocate for accountability and integrity while ignoring misconduct within its own ranks. The investigation is expected to reinforce the government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining, which continues to pose serious environmental and economic threats in Ghana.
