A member of the Movement for Change, Nana Yaw Sarpong, has called for punitive action, following the prosecution of foreign nationals arrested for illegal mining in Ghana.

According to him, foreign illegal miners should not be deported without facing the full rigors of the law. He insisted that authorities ensure that they serve their sentence in the country with hard labour.

Speaking on JoyNews on May 15, 2025, Sarpong expressed deep concern over the continued destruction of the land and water bodies due to illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.

He argued that the swift deportation of foreign offenders caught engaging in illegal mining fails to serve justice and does not deter others from future infractions.

“Foreign nationals found guilty of illegal mining in Ghana must be prosecuted to serve their sentences within the country with hard labour, aimed at (sic) reclaiming the lands they have damaged. Deportation without punishment is not enough.

“If you come into our country to engage in illegal mining - destroying our environment and livelihoods, you must face the consequences right here”, he stated.

This, he said, would not only serve as a punitive measure but also contribute directly to repairing the damage caused by their devastating activities.

“We must stop treating foreign offenders with kid gloves while our people suffer the consequences. Justice must be fair and firm,” he added.

Despite the government’s numerous interventions to curb the menace, illegal mining has become a national crisis as notable river bodies such as the Pra and Ankobra have been heavily polluted with dangerous chemicals and vast tracts of forest land degraded.

MRA/VPO

Meanwhile, catch up on the concluding part of the story of Fort William, where children were sold in exchange for kitchenware, others, below: