The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has expressed his intentions to involve the traditional authority in devising measures to curb the ongoing illegal mining also known as ‘galamsey’.
The Minister has said there is a need for Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves to be protected by regulating the level of mining on the water bodies as well as in the forest reserves.
As custodians of the forests where these activities take place, the Minister has recognised the need to engage these leaders to ensure the issue of illegal mining is brought under control.
Armah-Kofi Buah was speaking to journalists after meeting with staff of the Ministry on his first day in office Monday, February 03, 2025, when he expressed President Mahama’s government’s commitment to ending the galamsey canker.
“How do we make sure that illegal mining or galamsey is completely fashioned out and that we create a pathway for anybody who wants to engage in mining to do it legally and environmentally friendly way and make sure that we also protect our water bodies?
“You will see that shortly I will be visiting critical traditional authorities, engaging them, and soliciting advice and support as we go forward from here,” he indicated.
To commend those who are charting a good course in the fight against galamsey, the Minister assured that he will be updating the media on the Ministry’s work He also announced a monthly media briefing on steps taken in dealing with the menace.
“We will need your [the media] support to commend people who are doing the right thing. We will need your [the media] support to expose people who are destroying our water bodies. And you have our complete support.
“I intend to engage you [the media] on a monthly basis to update you on the progress we are making. And you are going to be part of this,” he added.
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