Afenyo-Markin: DRIP Equipment Being Used for Galamsey
Minority Leader says road construction equipment is being diverted for illegal mining with no government action
- Afenyo-Markin alleges DRIP equipment is being used for illegal mining
- He blames the government for failing to act against the misuse
- Warns galamsey is harming the environment and endangering the economy
Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has raised alarm over the alleged misuse of equipment meant for the District Road Improvement Project (DRIP), claiming that some of the machinery is being diverted to support illegal mining activities—popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on the state of Ghana’s economy on Monday, July 14, Afenyo-Markin accused the Mahama-led administration of turning a blind eye to the practice, which he said is accelerating environmental destruction and jeopardising the nation’s economic foundation.
He warned that illegal mining is not only degrading the environment but also undermining government efforts to boost agriculture as a pillar of economic growth.
“If we don’t address the galamsey issue, we’re just pumping money into the hands of people who are destroying the land,” he stated. “These are the same actions that will cripple our economy in the long term.”
Afenyo-Markin further decried the lack of enforcement, stating that DRIP equipment—intended for road development—is being repurposed for illegal mining operations with no accountability.
“There is impunity,” he stressed. “The very tools meant to build our roads are now destroying our environment—and no authority is stepping in to stop it.”
