The President of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Professor Eric Abavare, has expressed shock at why the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has shown little interest in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The lecturer noted that while the Speaker backed the initiative to legislate against LGBTQI+ issues and promised to facilitate its passage into law before the dissolution of the 8th Parliament, he has remained silent on illegal mining.

Professor Abavare stated that the Speaker is neglecting the issue of illegal mining and must be called out to demonstrate leadership. He added that, even with LGBTQI+ issues, which pose no significant threat to the country, agbin fought to have a law passed against it.

"The Speaker of Parliament is on my radar because he is culpable. He is culpable not because he is involved in galamsey but because he has failed to speak against it. I will not change this position. We all saw the commitment and dedication he had towards the LGBTQI+ issue. When the law was formulated, he promised to see it passed.

"He was deeply involved in the LGBTQI+ matters and pledged that as long as he remained Speaker, he would not entertain such activities.

"But where is he now that we are talking about galamsey? Galamsey is far more dangerous and a greater threat to the nation compared to LGBTQI. With LGBTQI+, two people are in a room engaging in a private act, but galamsey threatens our livelihoods, destroys our water bodies, and ravages our forests. We’ve even gone as far as passing a new law, L.I. (2462), allowing mining in our forest reserves. Did the Speaker not see this law in Parliament?"

Speaking in an interview on Frontline 87.5 FM, he continued, "If we are blaming President Akufo-Addo for failing to address the galamsey issue, then we cannot exclude the Speaker from this mess. He is culpable, and I will not blame him alone. The Chief Justice should also bear some responsibility for what is happening."

Meanwhile, he has called on the Speaker to resign if he is unfit for the role, stressing that Alban Bagbin has failed as a leader in the fight against galamsey.