Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, Hon. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammad, has likened illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, to an act of terrorism, warning that no one—regardless of political affiliation—will be spared from the government’s crackdown.
Addressing the media following the presentation of a report by the Technical Committee on small-scale mining reforms, Hon. Murtala Muhammad stressed the urgent need for decisive action.
“Galamsey is not just an environmental threat; it is an attack on the lives of our people, our water bodies, and the future of our nation. It is nothing short of economic and environmental terrorism, and we will fight it as such,” he declared.
The government has responded with immediate action, revoking all small-scale mining licences issued after December 7, 2024. This follows the committee’s recommendations, which call for a total overhaul of the Community Mining Scheme, decentralisation of mining licence issuance, and the repeal of LI 2462—a law that grants the President the power to approve mining in forest reserves.
Hon. Murtala Muhammad assured Ghanaians that the government’s war on illegal mining will be unrelenting. In a stern warning, he vowed that no one involved, political actors or not—including members of the NDC—would be spared from punitive actions. “This is a fight we must win for the survival of our nation.”
The Technical Committee’s report painted a grim picture of the state of small-scale mining, revealing systemic corruption, environmental destruction, and the failure of Community Mining Schemes to serve local communities.
In response, the government has ordered their immediate disbandment, replacing them with Small-Scale Cooperatives that will be subject to strict oversight and genuine community representation.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, described the report as a blueprint for a radical restructuring of the sector. “The report has armed the ministry, and by extension the government, with all the information necessary to make punitive and radical decisions in the small-scale mining sector,” he said.
