Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has announced a significant escalation in the government’s crackdown on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, with the arrest of 71 individuals and the seizure of more than 150 pieces of heavy machinery, vehicles, and firearms.
Delivering the update at a World Press Freedom Day event hosted by the German Embassy and UK High Commission in Accra on Monday, May 5, Kwakye Ofosu addressed a gathering of diplomats, journalists, and civil society actors. He underscored the administration’s determination to end illegal mining, a practice widely blamed for devastating Ghana’s environment and water bodies.
“As of the last brief that we got, 71 illegal miners have been arrested. Over 150 excavators, bulldozers, vehicles, and other weapons have been seized so far. Work is ongoing to ensure that the L.I 2462 no longer exists,” he assured.
He noted that on March 20, the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala, laid Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462 before Parliament—a controversial regulation that has permitted mining in forest reserves. However, the government has since shifted from plans to amend the regulation and is now fully committed to its repeal.
Kwakye Ofosu emphasized that the government is adopting a more robust legal and policy framework, including revising existing mining laws, to eliminate galamsey altogether. He reaffirmed the government’s intent to hold perpetrators accountable and restore Ghana’s degraded ecosystems.
The move signals a renewed push to balance environmental sustainability with economic development, as the country grapples with the long-term consequences of illegal mining.
