The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has declared the government’s unflinching resolve to win the fight against illegal mining, insisting the challenge, though daunting, is not insurmountable.
Addressing the nation at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Tuesday, the Minister admitted that the battle against galamsey is far from easy but assured Ghanaians that “we will definitely prevail.”
“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” he stated, “and with the political will and support of H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, we are committed to turning our water bodies blue, our forests green, and restoring our environment for posterity.”
Legislative Overhaul to Tackle Mining Sector Abuses
Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah announced an aggressive legislative review of Ghana’s mining framework to correct historical imbalances and secure equitable benefits for all Ghanaians. The Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and the Minerals and Mining Policy (2014) are being overhauled, with reforms already 85% complete.
Key proposals under the review include:
Reducing the validity period for prospecting and mining leases
Abolishing automatic license renewals when conditions are unmet
Introducing a new medium-scale mining license
Enforcing Community Development Agreements with revenue sharing for affected communities
Scrapping Development Agreements and limiting stability clauses to only essential long-term investments
“We are not against mining,” the Minister emphasized, “but we believe mining must be done responsibly and sustainably.”
Galamsey Clampdown: Over 1,300 Arrests, 425 Excavators Seized
In a show of commitment, Hon. Buah revealed that the government has revoked 55 small-scale mining licenses issued during the previous administration’s transitional period. Over 907 licenses are currently under review for potential revocation due to irregularities.
Security-led operations across the country have led to the seizure of:
425 excavators
1,345 arrests made
Hundreds of other equipment including bulldozers, changfangs, pumping machines, and motorcycles
In forest reserves alone, 177 excavators and 286 illegal miners have been arrested.
To coordinate national enforcement efforts, the Ministry has set up the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS)—a unified command centre integrating security, environmental, and legal interventions.
Tracking Every Excavator
A bold new move to digitize and track heavy mining equipment is taking shape. Hon. Buah revealed that the Ghana Mine Repository and Tracking Software is being piloted, with over 191 excavators already under surveillance in real-time via control rooms at the Minerals Commission.
In partnership with Customs and the Ministry of Transport, over 1,200 excavators imported into the country are under validation before clearance from Tema Port. This is backed by L.I. 2404, which mandates registration and location-tracking of all mining equipment.
Blue Water Initiative: 980 Guards Trained to Protect Rivers
To protect water bodies from pollution caused by galamsey, the government has trained and deployed 450 Blue Water Guards. An additional 530 will graduate by July 25, bringing the total to 980, with a target of 2,000 by year-end.
“These guards are non-confrontational. They operate as intelligence officers, raising awareness and working within communities to safeguard water bodies,” the Minister explained.
A second phase of the initiative will focus on de-chemicalising polluted water bodies and restoring their ecological balance.
Reforestation, Forestry, and Eco-Tourism
Illegal mining and logging have devastated over 5,500 hectares of Ghana’s forest reserves. However, the Forestry Commission has reclaimed all nine red-zoned reserves formerly controlled by illegal miners.
The government is also moving forward with its ambitious Tree for Life initiative, which aims to plant 30 million trees. As of mid-July, 7.6 million trees have already been planted, with efforts ongoing through the rainy season.
In promoting eco-tourism, proposals have been received from private partners to develop key reserves like Digya National Park and Shai Hills into tourist attractions.
Land Administration Decentralised
In line with President Mahama’s Reset Ghana Agenda, the Lands Commission is decentralizing services to all districts. Ninety (90) district offices have been earmarked to bring land services closer to Ghanaians.
“We are working towards a 30-day turnaround time for all land applications,” the Minister noted. A new Enterprise Land Information System (ELIS) will be deployed nationwide to promote digital land administration, transparency, and fraud reduction.
A legislative instrument to operationalise the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) is under final review, and a comprehensive audit of public land allocations is expected to be completed by August 2025.
Geological Investigations & Industrial Growth
The Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) is providing data for small-scale miners and has ruled out imminent geological risks through recent seismic monitoring.
Investigations into Ghana’s geothermal potential and clay deposits are underway, promising to boost clean energy and raw materials for ceramics and cement production.
Iron, Steel & Bauxite Industries
The Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) is preparing to regulate the scrap metal sector and has issued three licenses for the Sheini Iron Ore Project. The Gyamurume, Bodada Block II, and Pudo sites have confirmed high-grade iron ore reserves.
On the aluminium front, GIADEC has secured six bauxite mining leases awaiting parliamentary ratification, with plans for new rail infrastructure, Takoradi Port expansion, and support for VALCO’s industrial revival.
A Call to Action
In concluding, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah made a passionate appeal to all well-meaning Ghanaians, traditional authorities, and civil society actors to join hands with the government in safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources.
“We have drawn a line in the sand,” he said. “We will fight against irresponsible and reckless mining in any form. This is a fight for the soul of our country.”
