By: Savannah Pokuaah Duah
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has attributed the surge in illegal mining across Ghana to a lack of accessible geological data on mineral deposits. According to him, this information gap forces people to mine indiscriminately, causing extensive environmental damage.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, the sector Minister emphasized the crucial role of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) in addressing the issue. He explained that without clear data on mineralized areas, small-scale miners are left to operate blindly, which contributes to the destruction of land and water bodies.
“We ask the question all the time—why are people mining everywhere? Because they don’t know where the gold is,” Buah stated.
To combat the issue, the Minister proposed a targeted approach: “We need to identify mineralized areas, then we can really organize people better in those zones so that we don’t destroy our lands and our water bodies.”
Mr Buah announced plans to retool and refocus the GGSA, equipping it to more effectively map out mineral-rich regions and support regulated mining activities.
He stressed that this would not only help curb illegal mining but also guide responsible exploitation of Ghana’s natural resources.
On the broader front of natural resource management, the Minister noted that his department has been actively monitoring seismic activity nationwide, assuring the public that no significant risks have been detected. He also mentioned ongoing geothermal investigations aimed at evaluating the potential for sustainable energy development in Ghana.
