By: Ashiadey Dotse
Former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Ade Coker, has urged the government to ban illegal mining (galamsey) and suspend small-scale mining to help restore damaged lands across Ghana.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Ade Coker stressed the urgent need for action to protect the country’s natural resources. He also proposed that large-scale mining companies pause operations for at least three to four years to allow land reclamation efforts.
“Galamsey should be banned; small-scale mining should be suspended. The big companies should also stop work for the next three to four years to reclaim our land. How much are we benefiting from our gold? The last time I checked, $2 billion worth of Ghana’s gold was exported to Dubai, but most of it was smuggled. Ghana gained very little from it,” he stated.
Ade Coker also called for better tracking of excavators used in mining, suggesting that authorities should maintain an inventory of all excavators and identify those used for road construction and mining. He urged the government to ensure all mining excavators are accounted for and placed at designated locations to prevent illegal activities.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Western Central Regional Police Command has arrested 11 people for engaging in illegal mining along the Bonsa River in the Western Region.
The suspects include seven Ghanaians and four Chinese nationals. They were apprehended on March 31, 2025, during an intelligence-led operation aimed at curbing illegal mining in the area.
