By: Sarah Baafi
A senior government official has revealed that decisive action has been taken to halt the collection of illegal levies tied to illegal mining (galamsey), following a high-profile media exposé.
Speaking on Newsfile, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo-a lawyer and Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority commended Joy FM and Joy News for uncovering the practice, which he described as previously unknown beyond affected mining communities.
According to him, the exposé brought to light how some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) were generating internal funds by imposing charges on illegal miners operating within their jurisdictions.
Tameklo explained that upon becoming aware of the situation, President John Dramani Mahama acted swiftly, directing that investigations be expanded beyond the initially affected enclave to determine the scale of the practice nationwide.
“The President did not limit the issue to one area. He ordered a broader probe across all mining communities, and it turned out the practice was widespread,” he noted.
He emphasized that the President has since taken a firm stance, ordering an immediate halt to such levies, insisting that no justification can be made for benefiting from illegal mining activities.
Tameklo warned that any assembly that continues to collect such taxes despite the directive would be engaging in outright defiance, which he described as a “grievous matter” that would attract sanctions.
On the broader fight against galamsey, he highlighted intensified enforcement efforts, including the destruction of over 500 mining vessels, locally known as “sampans,” on Ghana’s water bodies. He stressed that their continued operation would have caused severe environmental damage.
“The environmental terrorism associated with galamsey is something we must all condemn,” he stated.
Addressing concerns about accountability, Tameklo pointed to legal challenges in prosecuting offenders, explaining that Ghana’s mining laws require proof of intent making it difficult to establish criminal liability without clear evidence of deliberate wrongdoing.
He further indicated that to prevent interference or tip-offs, enforcement bodies have increasingly operated independently of local assemblies, especially in areas where collaboration could compromise operations.
While acknowledging past lapses, he suggested that the President’s directive offers a reset, but cautioned that any future violations would not be tolerated.
The revelations have intensified national conversations around governance, environmental protection, and the role of local authorities in combating illegal mining.
