Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, has revealed alarming statistics showing that a staggering 3 million Ghanaians are directly or indirectly involved in the country’s illegal mining activities.
The data, according to reports by the Minerals Commission, highlights the vast scale of the ‘galamsey’ crisis gripping the nation.
Speaking during his appearance before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on January 27, 2025, Buah sharply criticized the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration’s handling of illegal mining, branding their efforts as a “failure.”
Despite the initial ban on mining and a subsequent extension, he argued, the result has been disastrous: “Degraded lands, polluted water bodies, and wanton destruction of forest reserves,” he declared.
The Minister-Designate promised sweeping reforms to tackle illegal mining, announcing that the law (LI 2462) will be amended to prevent any further mining in forest reserves.
He pledged to conduct a “wholistic review” of mining licenses obtained unlawfully, aiming to root out corruption and environmental degradation caused by illegal miners.
Buah’s remarks come as he prepares to take the helm of the Ministry, with bold intentions to reverse the devastating environmental consequences of galamsey and enforce stricter regulations. “The fight against illegal mining is far from over, and we are committed to implementing sustainable solutions to protect Ghana’s land and water resources,” he added.
