The Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced plans for a comprehensive review of unlawfully acquired mining licenses.
Speaking before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 27, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah criticized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration’s handling of galamsey, describing their efforts as a failure.
He acknowledged initial measures undertaken by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government but lamented the lack of lasting results.
“It’s true the NPP administration started very well—there was a ban on mining places for six months, later extended to nine months,” Mr. Buah stated. “But at the end of the 8 years, the outcome is what we all know: degraded lands, polluted water bodies, and wanton destruction of forest reserves. These are clear facts that indicate that the fight against galamsey was a failure.”
Mr. Buah’s comments follow widespread criticism of President Akufo-Addo, who in 2017 declared his commitment to ending galamsey, even vowing to put his presidency on the line to achieve this goal. However, the environmental devastation left behind has fueled public skepticism about the sincerity of the promise.
Condemning the destruction of Ghana’s natural resources, Mr. Buah called illegal mining activities “unacceptable,” particularly those that have left rivers and other water bodies polluted. He underscored the urgent need for decisive and sustainable measures to protect the country’s environment.
