The Member of Parliament for Effiduase/Asokore in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, has expressed concerns about the widespread illegal mining activities that have had a significant impact on river bodies across the country.

He emphasised that the ruling New Patriotic Party is determined to crack down on individuals responsible for the destruction of river bodies nationwide.

Speaking at a campaign event in a video shared by Accra-based GHOne TV, Dr. Ayew Afriye mentioned that rigorous efforts are being made to stop illegal mining activities on water bodies while still allowing legitimate small-scale miners to operate sustainably.

"We are pursuing them. The operation we launched this week will ensure that we catch these people. They realised we were winning seats in mining areas, so they brought in foreigners to mine on our river bodies. Is water now a problem?

"Is it just this month? Someone is orchestrating all this to make us stop the illegal miners and lose our seats, but we won't let them succeed. We will not stop them today or tomorrow. What we will stop are those mining on the river bodies," he added.

The NPP legislator also warned against efforts by some political parties to create discontent against the ruling party, arguing that the illegal mining issue is a national problem that requires a united effort to combat.

His comments come amid growing concerns about the illegal mining menace, with citizens calling on the government to take decisive action to prevent a worsening crisis.

Watch Dr. Ayew Afriye's full remarks below: