Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has declared that the fight against illegal small-scale mining, known as galamsey, is a government priority and is being treated as an act of terrorism.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, the Minister provided an update on the government’s intensified efforts to curb galamsey.
He revealed that, under his leadership over the past 60 days, security operatives had arrested 76 illegal miners and seized 100 excavators, which are now in police custody.
“The fight against galamsey is a national priority, and we need everyone onboard to eradicate it,” he stated.
Mr. Buah urged security agencies to carry out their duties without fear or external interference. He specifically cautioned them against heeding any so-called “call from above” demanding the release of arrested illegal miners or confiscated mining equipment.
“I have the full authority and mandate of the President to wage relentless and uncompromising war on galamsey, and as a government policy, it is considered terrorism,” he emphasized.
The Minister also sent a strong warning to those operating illegally in the shadows. “We’ll unmask all faceless people engaging in galamsey, they’re cowards,” he assured.
Highlighting the dangers posed by illegal mining activities, Mr. Buah referenced a recent violent confrontation between forest guards and illegal miners, which nearly resulted in the fatal injury of a Forestry Commission officer. He noted that these illegal operators are often heavily armed and stressed the government’s commitment to equipping security agencies and the Forestry Commission with the necessary resources to combat the threat effectively.
In addressing the influx of mining equipment, the Minister questioned the alarming rate at which excavators were being imported into the country. “How can we import GHS 6.2 billion worth of excavators per year, being the third highest item on the country’s import bill last year?” he asked.
To regulate the use of excavators, he announced that the government would implement geo-tagging and geo-fencing technology at the ports to track the movement of all earth-moving equipment.
As part of efforts to restore areas devastated by illegal mining, the government plans to plant 20 million seedlings annually under the Tree of Life initiative. Additionally, Mr. Buah revealed that 2,000 water guards are being trained by the Ghana Navy to protect water bodies and provide intelligence to security agencies. Currently, 400 recruits are undergoing training and are expected to complete their program by mid-April.
He also stressed the importance of instilling environmental responsibility in young people. To achieve this, sustainable resource management will be integrated into school curricula, ensuring that children become active advocates for environmental preservation.
