By Akosua Frema Frempong
The government of Ghana has escalated its efforts to combat illegal mining, locally known as “galamsey,” with a clear and forceful message delivered by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah. During a fact-finding mission to the Offin Shelter Belt Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region, Minister Buah issued a stern warning to illegal miners.
“The war being waged by the government against this menace will be relentless.”
The mission, conducted in collaboration with the Ministries of Defense and the Interior, saw Minister Buah leading a joint military-police task force and Forestry Commission officers into the reserve. He was accompanied by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene. The primary objective was to clear the area of illegal miners and initiate reclamation efforts.
The extent of the damage was evident. Approximately 30 hectares of the forest reserve had been ravaged by illegal mining activities. The operation resulted in the seizure of 15 excavators, demonstrating the government’s resolve to reclaim lost forest resources and restore the quality of polluted water bodies.
“We are coming to you. We are coming after you,” Minister Buah declared, addressing illegal miners. “You have a choice. Leave now, or we will arrest you and your co-conspirators.” He emphasized that investigations were underway to track down the financiers and suppliers of the excavators, vowing that they would face the “full rigors of the law.”
The Minister stressed that the fight against illegal mining would not cease. “We are going to fight, and I believe that with the support of the people of Ghana, we will reclaim our forests one at a time and restore our water bodies one at a time,” he said. He also warned against attempts to intervene on behalf of arrested individuals, particularly foreign nationals.
In addition to enforcement, the government is focusing on creating a regulated and sustainable mining sector. “We are creating a pathway for anyone who wants to undertake legal mining,” Minister Buah explained. “We are simplifying and decentralizing the process to ensure that community leaders, in collaboration with regulatory authorities such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission, are involved in the licensing regime.”
He also announced plans to repeal existing laws that grant excessive mining rights, signaling a move toward stricter regulations. “We are permanently repealing Act 2463, which even gave the President the power to grant mining licenses. That authority is gone. There will be no more of that,” he stated.
Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, echoed the call for responsible mining, urging young people to engage in legal and sustainable practices. “We are advocating for responsible mining,” he said. He outlined a model where the government would assist miners with the necessary paperwork and supervise their operations to ensure environmental protection and land reclamation.
A policy is currently being formulated to categorize mining activities, their scope, and modalities, aiming to sanitize the sector and ensure its sustainability. The government’s message is clear: illegal mining will not be tolerated, and efforts are underway to create a regulated and environmentally responsible mining industry.
