Frank Annoh-Dompreh
The Minority in Parliament is calling out the government for extending the Gold Fields Damang mining lease without securing prior parliamentary approval, describing the move as unconstitutional and disrespectful to the legislative arm of government.
Addressing journalists in Parliament last Friday, the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, accused the government of breaching Article 268 of the 1992 Constitution, which requires that all mining and natural resource agreements must be brought to Parliament for ratification before coming into force.
“Article 268 is very clear,” Mr. Annoh-Dompreh stressed and added, “It states that any transaction or contract that grants rights to exploit Ghana’s minerals must first be ratified by Parliament. The government has extended the lease for Gold Fields Damang and the company is currently mining aggressively.”
He noted that his own investigations had revealed that the company had been allowed to continue mining under the extended lease, even though the agreement had not yet been submitted to Parliament.
The Nsawam-Adoagyiri Member of Parliament (MP) cited a Supreme Court ruling that reinforces the constitutional requirement for parliamentary ratification, and argued that the government’s actions undermine the role of the people’s representatives.
According to him, the situation reflects a worrying trend where the executive takes decisions on mining agreements and later presents them to Parliament merely as a formality, relying on its two-thirds majority to secure automatic approval.
“It cannot be that you extend the lease, allow the company to mine, and later, as an afterthought, bring the agreement to Parliament expecting us to rubber-stamp it. This is wrong and must be brought to the attention of the Ghanaian people,” he said.
Beyond the constitutional concerns, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh also raised alarm about the lack of environmental safeguards in the mining sector.
He criticised the government for failing to make budgetary allocations for land reclamation, water body restoration, and sustainable mining practices when the Gold Board Bill was passed.
“The Gold Board was allocated nearly $400 million, but no funds were set aside for reclaiming degraded lands or polluted water bodies. We cannot continue to prioritise gold production while neglecting the environmental damage left behind,” he stated.
He warned that mercury and other heavy metals from irresponsible mining practices pose long-term health risks to Ghanaians, including food insecurity and waterborne diseases.
Drawing comparisons to countries like Botswana and South Africa, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh argued that Ghana must adopt a more responsible mining framework that balances economic gains with environmental protection.
The Minority Chief Whip also reminded the government of assurances made by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who promised to introduce clear classifications and monitoring systems within the mining sector – a promise he said has not been fulfilled.
“The President has sworn to uphold the Constitution. He cannot cherry-pick which provisions to follow. If the government truly cares about the environment and the welfare of Ghanaians, they must immediately bring the Gold Fields Damang agreement to Parliament for proper scrutiny and ratification,” he said.
He noted that the Minority would continue to demand accountability and push for environmental sustainability in all mining operations in the country.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House