The Deputy Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe,
Jerry Ahmed Shaibu has called on the public and the media to demand accountability for “unprecedented” environmental destruction caused by the activities of illegal miners, popularly known as Galamsey.
Speaking on Starr FM’s Morning Starr on Thursday, April 23, 2026, the lawmaker said this is necessary because the current administration has failed to deliver on its promise to end illegal mining (galamsey).
Shaibu highlighted the dire state of Ghana’s water bodies, referencing recent remarks by the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost regarding the impact of galamsey on religious practices
“Galamsey has become unprecedented in this dispensation. It has reached the extent where the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost had to say that they can not even go ahead to have baptism in the river bodies anymore. They can not take their church members to any of the rivers for baptism. This is the extent of the damage,” he said.
The MP further alleged that some media practitioners who were once vocal critics of illegal mining have now “shut up” because of political patronage.
“We are calling on the media—those of you who have not yet joined the table to eat—to speak up. Let us protect our democracy. Let us ensure that there is accountability and that the promises made to protect our environment are kept,” he encouraged.
The Deputy Minority Chief Whip took aim at the government’s fiscal management.
While the administration has touted a reduction in the number of ministers, Shaibu alleged that the actual cost to the taxpayer has increased.
He characterized the current setup at Jubilee House as a “scam,” claiming that while there may be fewer ministers, the salaries and allowances for the remaining officials and presidential staffers have ballooned.
“Don’t reduce the number of ministers and then increase the salaries and allowances of those who are left… to the extent that the wage bill is even higher than when you had more ministers. That is a complete scam!”
According to him, the government of fear of being exposed for all the wrongdoings is now emarbaking on political persecution.
But he maintained that the Minority would not be silenced by the recent wave of political arrests or executive pressure.
He pledged to continue putting the government “on its toes” regarding promises made to cocoa farmers, unemployed youth, and the general populace.
“We will not be intimidated. We will continue to speak. We will continue to protect our democracy,” Shaibu declared.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
