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The Minister-designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has reiterated the government’s commitment to combating illegal mining otherwise known as ‘galamsey‘, with a renewed collaborative approach.

According to the Minister-designate, illegal mining is posing a serious threat to the country and should be addressed to safeguard the country’s water bodies and forest reserves.

During his vetting before the Appointments Committee Monday, January 27, 2025, the Minister-designate noted that galamsey was a significant crisis which needs to be addressed.

“We face a serious crisis with the destruction of our forests and the pollution of our rivers. Illegal mining must be combated,” he stated. “We, in opposition, have been very strong on this issue.

“As a minister, we will stand together with the people of Ghana to fight illegal mining. It doesn’t matter your political affiliation. If you want to mine, there are legal processes to acquire licences,” he indicated.

He explained the need to adopt a new strategy to arrive at a solution, considering the fact that previous approaches used by the erstwhile administration did not work.

“One of the interventions we will focus on is engaging communities differently. We will ensure that the people in mining areas understand that the destiny of their forests and rivers is in their hands. They are the leaders of these areas, and we will empower and respect them while working closely with them to provide support,” he explained.

He also disclosed, as part of his strategies, to formalise community mining by organising miners into cooperatives to create designated mining enclaves with the help of the Minerals Commission and the Geological Survey Authority.

“We will work with the Minerals Commission and the Geological Survey Authority to identify mineralised areas where mining can be properly regulated,” he explained.

As stated in the NDC’s 2024 People’s Manifesto, the Minister-designate reiterated the government’s intention to decentralise the licensing regime to make it easier for communities to access permits.

“We want to empower communities by simplifying the licensing process. At the same time, we will deal ruthlessly with individuals and groups engaging in illegal mining because we would have provided a clear pathway for them to do the right thing,” he said.

Curbing ‘galamsey’: Mahama promises to decentralise licensing authority to district mining offices