A leading member of the United Party (UP) has warned that the long-term cost of illegal mining could outweigh any economic gains if authorities fail to address its impact on public health and the environment.

He said the country must adopt responsible mining practices while taking stronger action against illegal operations.

According to him, reports indicating a rise in kidney-related illnesses linked to environmental pollution should serve as a warning.

“If we don’t deal with this problem, you will be growing your economy only to spend the money in the health sector,” he said on TV3.

He argued that Ghana can continue to benefit from its mineral resources without tolerating illegal mining.

“The gold beneath the earth, we need it. We are a Gold Coast. Nobody is denying that, but there are responsible ways,” he stated.

The UP member also expressed concern that illegal mining activities often intensify during election periods, warning that delaying action could make enforcement more difficult in the future.

“My difficulty is that we are nowhere near Election 2028. If you can’t deal with them now, what will be the fate of this country when we get closer to elections?” he asked.

He concluded that the fight against illegal mining should focus on enforcing existing laws and ensuring that mining activities are conducted in accordance with the country’s legal and environmental requirements.