‘While GoldBod cannot account for GH¢22bn, mining communities are paying with their kidneys and lungs’ – Afenyo-Markin

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin highlighted a stark contrast between financial discrepancies at the Gold Board and the severe health impacts of illegal mining in Ghana. Addressing the nation's Parliament, Afenyo-Markin emphasized that residents of mining communities are suffering from kidney failure, lung failure, and other grave conditions due to the extensive pollution caused by illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.

He described the situation as a "widespread epidemic" that the government appears to be unable to address effectively. The Minority Leader stressed the urgent need to confront this issue, especially considering the Gold Board's inability to account for GH¢22 billion (1.7 billion), which he termed a significant financial gap. Afenyo-Markin concluded by asserting that the Chamber of Parliament should provide answers to the suffering of mining communities, whose lives and health have been compromised by the environmental devastation wrought by illegal mining activities.