The Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, Abena Osei-Asare, has criticised the government’s budgetary allocation for the fight against illegal mining, describing it as inadequate for confronting a national crisis.

Speaking on the Floor of Parliament on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, she noted that although the ministry responsible for tackling illegal mining received GH¢2.1 billion, only GH¢150 million was allocated to the agency leading the anti-galamsey fight.

“It [galamsey] threatens our survival. So, Mr Speaker, if something threatens your survival, what are you supposed to do? You are supposed to fight it to make sure you survive,” she said, questioning why a national emergency was being treated as an afterthought.

“How can you fight it when, with a GH¢2.1 billion budget, you only give the agency to fight it GH¢150 million?” she asked.

She accused government of offering rhetoric instead of meaningful action.

“Are you telling Ghanaians that you are fighting it, or you are just putting out words and playing with Ghanaians?

“GH¢35 million, just 1 percent of the Ministry’s allocation,” Abena Osei-Asare added.

According to her, the limited allocation makes it impossible for the government to transition young people away from illegal gold mining and provide them with sustainable economic opportunities.

She likened the situation to sending an unprepared army into battle.

“The galamsey menace is a war. If it’s a war, then this budget is telling us that it’s like we are on a battlefield with plastic chairs instead of arms to fight and make sure we win,” she said, describing the allocation as “words that don’t have any meaning.”

Abena Osei-Asare called on the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to revise the allocation before Parliament approves the budget, insisting that anything less would be a betrayal of Ghanaians.

“That is when you can tell me that this is really threatening our survival and so you’re doing something about it,” she said.

JKB/MA

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