The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP, has emphasized the critical role of the media in combating illegal mining (galamsey) during an extensive meeting with a cross-section of reps from major media houses in the country. The engagement aimed to demystify the complexities of illegal mining and rally media support to address the menace, particularly around water bodies and forest reserves.
Originally scheduled earlier, the meeting coincided with reports of an attack on Forestry Commission officers—an incident that, according to Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah, highlights the severity of the issue and the need for decisive, inclusive, and radical solutions.
During the meeting on Monday, March 24, 2025, the Lands & Natural Resources Minister provided a detailed overview of the galamsey situation inherited by the Mahama administration. He revealed that upon taking office, nine forest reserves had already fallen under the complete control of illegal miners.
Additionally, he disclosed alarming statistics on water pollution, noting that turbidity levels in water treated by the Ghana Water Company Limited ranged between 5,000 and 12,000 NTU, more than 10 times the permissible point (500 NTU) for water treatment. The scale of land degradation was equally staggering, with illegal mining consuming an area equivalent to 7,500 football fields.
Following his briefing, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah outlined the government’s policy measures to curb and ultimately eradicate illegal mining. The strategy is built on five key pillars:
Enforcement of Existing Laws – Strengthening collaboration with law enforcement agencies to intensify crackdowns.
Structural Overhaul: Teams will be reshuffled to man the sites and forest areas to prevent complacency and buffer the existing force to ensure adequate cover in all areas.
Stakeholder Engagement – Involving traditional leaders and local authorities and the District Security Councils in the licensing process.
Technology Deployment – Establishing a monitoring system to track mining equipment and activities in real time.
Public Sensitization – Raising awareness to foster collective responsibility in the fight against galamsey.
The Minister identified flaws in the current licensing system as a major enabler of illegal mining. The centralized process excluded traditional rulers and local government officials, weakening oversight. To address this, the government is decentralizing the licensing regime, ensuring that traditional authorities and District Security Councils become the first point of approval for mining permits.
Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah urged the media to remain vocal and objective in the fight against galamsey, cautioning against politicizing the issue. He emphasized the media’s role as the fourth estate of the realm and called for their active support in amplifying government efforts.
The media practitioners commended the Minister for the engagement and pledged to use their platforms to bolster the fight against illegal mining.
