By Celestine Avi
The National Menace
Illegal mining, or galamsey, remains one of Ghana’s most difficult national challenges, destroying water bodies, farmlands, and forest reserves. Over the years, successive governments have struggled to curb the menace, which has grown from artisanal digging into large-scale operations involving heavy machinery.
President John Dramani Mahama says while the fight is a process and not an event, his administration is taking concrete steps to confront the problem and restore the environment.
“I had no illusions that within seven months I was going to win the fight against galamsey. It was not going to be an event; it is a process. Mistakes have been made, but lessons have been learned,” he said.
Government’s Measures
Addressing a national dialogue with civil society organisations in Accra, President Mahama outlined several measures being implemented to combat illegal mining. These include the registration and tracking of excavators, enforcement of import regulations, sustained military deployment in forest reserves, recruitment of Blue Water Guards to protect rivers, and reclamation of degraded lands.
“We now require every excavator to be registered with its owner known. If an excavator is found in a forest reserve, the owner will be held responsible,” the President stated.
“We have also introduced a geofencing policy so that if an excavator moves beyond its approved location, we can immediately trace it and act.”
He noted that over a thousand Blue Water Guards have been deployed along major river bodies such as the Ankobra, with plans to scale up the initiative to other rivers, including the Pra and Birim.
Funding and Security Support
President Mahama acknowledged that sustaining the fight comes with huge financial and logistical demands. He said government will work with Parliament to ensure the next budget allocates more resources for operations under the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
“We need a substantially bigger budget than we currently have to be able to win this war,” he said. “As we deploy more troops and apply more resources to the fight, I am sure that gradually we will begin to see that we are winning.”
Targeting the Kingpins
The President emphasized that the focus of law enforcement should shift from arresting only the young men working on the ground to targeting the financiers and operators behind illegal mining networks.
“Most of those arrested are young people looking for a livelihood. The ones who run these operations, the ‘kingpins,’ are the ones we must be arresting and prosecuting,” he insisted.
He added that his administration is exploring international best practices, citing Chile’s success in formalizing 90 percent of its small-scale mining operations as a model Ghana can emulate.
“If countries like Chile have been able to formalize 90 percent of their small-scale gold mining, then Ghana can also achieve the same,” President Mahama said.
Adopting Technology and Reclamation
President Mahama also announced plans to adopt advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) mapping, satellite seismic surveys, and mercury-free gold processing techniques to promote responsible mining.
“While fighting the menace, we should also adopt new technologies that protect our environment,” he said. “It is not enough to stop illegal miners; we must reclaim the degraded lands and detoxify our rivers.”
He disclosed that pilot projects using tree species to regenerate mined lands have produced promising results, with support expected from climate funds and international green initiatives.
Personal Commitment
Responding to public concerns, President Mahama dismissed suggestions that he or his administration benefit from illegal mining activities.
“I don’t gain anything from galamsey. I am not personally involved in it, and I have no interest in it continuing,” he declared.
“You can be sure that we are all on the same side, and we will continue to work to hand over to our children an environment as beautiful as the one our forefathers gave us.”
A Call for National Support
President Mahama called on citizens, civil society, and the media to sustain their advocacy and pressure, saying their involvement is crucial to maintaining transparency and accountability in the ongoing fight.
“Continue to put our feet to the fire,” he urged. “That will encourage us to work harder and to ensure we win this battle for Ghana’s future.”
