Government Vows To Targets Financiers Behind Illegal Mining (Galamsey)
- Feb 26, 2025
- 2 min read
The Government of Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, by shifting focus to the financiers and key figures who sustain the destructive practice.
Speaking at a high-level conference that brought together parliamentarians and key stakeholders to discuss a comprehensive strategy for responsible small-scale mining, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, vowed to go after the big players funding illegal mining operations.
“This fight is no longer about the small boys. This fight must get to the roots—the financiers, the big guys, the unseen faces who do not worry about where that source of money is coming from. We must find them and shame them, and we can only do that when you are part of it,” he declared.
The Minister further reassured the public that no one, including top government officials, would be allowed to interfere with arrests or investigations into illegal mining activities.
“What is different today is that not the vice president who has appointed me and not the president who has appointed me will call us to release anybody or condone any illegality.”
Delivering the keynote address, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang highlighted the devastating effects of illegal mining on Ghana’s water bodies, environment, and public health. She urged policymakers to translate discussions into actionable steps.
“Our discussions today must move beyond rhetoric to tangible actions that will drive change in our respective constituencies. We must work together to ensure that small-scale mining is not synonymous with destruction but rather an avenue for economic empowerment, job creation, and sustainable development.”
The Ghanaian government has, in recent years, taken several measures to clamp down on illegal mining, including deploying military task forces, introducing community mining schemes, and regulating small-scale mining operations. However, the persistence of galamsey suggests that more needs to be done—especially in tracking and prosecuting the financiers behind these activities.
With this renewed political will and commitment, Ghana is taking a firm stance to protect its natural resources, restore degraded lands, and ensure that mining contributes positively to national development.
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