‘Galamsey is poisoning Kyebi, I see my constituents dying’ – MP

The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, has raised alarm over the severe impact of galamsey on Kyebi and surrounding communities, warning that residents are being poisoned through the air they breathe, the food they eat, and the water they drink.

He described the situation as “heartbreaking” and called for urgent action from government and security agencies to halt illegal mining activities.

Speaking to the media, Dr. Agyemang lamented, “This morning, I will say it has not been a good morning for me because upon deeper reflection, I see that my constituents are dying. We are poisoned. We are eating poison, drinking poison, and breathing poison.”

The MP revealed that water from local rivers has become so contaminated that the Ghana Water Company can no longer treat it for safe consumption. According to him, the turbidity levels have reached 64,000 NTU, far exceeding what the company can handle.

He further described the scale of environmental destruction caused by illegal miners, noting that from Esiyama through Apigya, more than 120 excavators are operating along the road, destroying farmlands and threatening underground water sources.

“For the past three months, there has not been any potable water in Kyebi and its environs. The river has turned into mud, not water,” Dr. Agyemang added, expressing deep concern for the future of his constituents.

The Abuakwa South MP called on authorities to intervene immediately, emphasizing that without action, Kyebi risks becoming uninhabitable. “There’s no water, no farms, and no hope for the future of my constituents if this continues,” he warned.

Meanwhile, the Acting Chief Justice, Baffoe-Bonnie has also pledged to priorities Galamsey and drug-related cases.

He also promised tougher sentences and specialized courts to restore confidence in the judiciary.

Speaking at the 44th Annual Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana in Accra, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said the judiciary must be resolute in handling such cases.

“We must ensure that prosecutions related to illegal mining and drug trafficking and abuse are handled with seriousness, impartiality and urgency,” he declared. “The law must be applied without fear or favour. No person, regardless of political affiliation or social status, should be immune from justice.”

He announced plans to revamp specialised courts to fast-track such prosecutions.

According to him, this will eliminate unnecessary delays and show Ghanaians that the law works equally for all.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie raised concern over what he described as weak and inconsistent sentences for environmental and drug-related crimes, which he said undermine deterrence. “Consistency in sentencing is key,” he stressed.