Ghana’s President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, has highlighted recent progress in the country’s ongoing fight against illegal mining (galamsey).
According to him, even though the menace is complex, the government has chalked up some success in the quest to make galamsey a thing of the past.
President Mahama made these remarks during a courtesy call by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference at the Jubilee House on May 24, 2025.
In his address, he emphasised that while small-scale mining is not illegal, there is a need to deter unscrupulous individuals whose actions have harmed the environment. “It’s a very complex fight. Unfortunately, because of the lack of economic opportunities, a lot of young people who are unskilled have been forced into illegal small-scale mining as an easy avenue to gain employment and be able to make an income,” the president said.
He announced an ambitious plan to restore Ghana’s degraded forest reserves through a carbon credit-supported reclamation programme, targeting areas devastated by illegal mining (galamsey).
“The other focus for us is the mining on the water bodies, because that is what is polluting the Pra River, Birim, and others, so we’ve started with the recruitment of the Blue Water Guards,” he added.
The comments by the president were in response to a call by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference to declare a state of emergency on galamsey.
Presenting their concerns, the leader of the delegation and president of the conference, Most Reverend Matthew Gyamfi, bemoaned the drastic effects of illegal mining, adding that his outfit is willing to assist the government to combat the challenge. “The ecological destruction is grave, but equally dangerous is the moral and social decay that comes with it,” Bishop Gyamfi warned. He also called for urgent policy reforms, including a moratorium on new artisanal mining licences, a comprehensive review of the Minerals and Mining Act (2006), and stricter environmental impact assessments for mining operations.
So far, a total of about 5,500 hectares of land, equivalent to 7,500 football pitches, have been degraded by illegal mining. Although eight of nine red zones have since been reclaimed, 16% of the country’s forest reserves remain depleted — a situation the president says remains a priority.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has also reiterated its commitment to fighting galamsey through its five-pronged approach. Speaking at the event, the Director of Communications at the Ministry, Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia, stated that the measures, which include providing alternative livelihoods for illegal miners, will significantly help to stem the tide.
She also called on all stakeholders to support the ministry, stressing that the fight against galamsey remains a collective duty of all and sundry.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
