The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Armah-Kofi Buah, has called on the media to play a leading role in making the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) a national cause.
He said the country’s forest reserves and water bodies were under severe threat, and without urgent and collective action, Ghana’s existence as a nation would be at risk.
“The media is critical in this battle. You have been instrumental in exposing illegal activities, and I am here to seek your support to ensure that we do not lose this fight,” Mr Buah told editors at an engagement, in Accra, on Monday.
He emphasised that the challenge required broad-based national mobilisation, stating, “This is not a partisan fight. We need all Ghanaians – traditional leaders, security agencies, politicians, and ordinary citizens – to come together to stop this.”
Illegal mining has become one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental challenges, degrading vast tracts of forest land and contaminating major water bodies such as the Pra, Ankobra, and Offin rivers.
The Water Resources Commission reports that turbidity levels in some key water sources have risen from the standard 500 NTU to as high as 12,000 NTU, making treatment extremely difficult and costly.
The Ghana Water Company has warned that some water treatment plants may have to shut down if pollution persists, threatening access to clean drinking water for millions of people.
The environmental toll has been severe, with forests and farmlands destroyed by unregulated mining.
The use of harmful chemicals, such as mercury and cyanide, has poisoned soil and water sources, affecting agriculture and biodiversity.
Health experts have linked rising cases of birth defects, kidney diseases, and respiratory problems to prolonged exposure to these toxic substances.
The Minister outlined key reforms aimed at addressing these challenges, with decentralisation of licensing as a major intervention.
A new framework will allow district-level committees to review and recommend small-scale mining licences.
The District Security Committee (DISEC), chaired by the District Chief Executive (DCE), will be expanded to include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Forestry Commission, and Minerals Commission to streamline licensing.
“This reform ensures that mining licences are approved with full knowledge and involvement of local stakeholders, reducing conflict and backdoor deals,” Mr Buah explained.
Under the proposed reforms, DCEs will now be directly responsible for overseeing best management practices in their districts.
They will be evaluated on their ability to curb illegal mining activities and enforce environmental compliance.
To strengthen community engagement, mining cooperatives will be established, allowing chiefs, youth groups, and community representatives to manage mining activities transparently.
“The days of top-down decision-making in community mining are over. The communities themselves will sign off on applications and manage development funds from mining proceeds,” he stated.
The Minister announced the restructuring of security oversight, including a mandatory transfer of district police commanders in mining areas every five years to prevent localised corruption.
“We are also intensifying military operations in forest reserves, reversing the lapse that allowed illegal miners to take over nine forest areas,” he noted.
The Minerals Commission has deployed a digital monitoring system to track excavators and mining operations in real time, a measure that will be expanded to forest reserves to enhance surveillance.
Mr Buah stressed that while government reforms were crucial, media advocacy remained indispensable in rallying public support.
“This fight cannot be won in secrecy. The public must be informed about the gravity of the situation and be part of the solution,” he said.
Ghana annually loses about 120,000 hectares of it forest cover to poor farming practices, illegal mining and logging activities.
Some 44 of its 280 forest reserves have been lost.
Socially, illegal mining has fuelled conflicts over land ownership, with some communities experiencing violent clashes between miners and local residents.
Reports of child labour and school dropouts have also been linked to the lure of quick money from galamsey operations.
However, Gold remains a key pillar of Ghana’s economy, contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings, government revenue, and employment.
As the country’s leading export commodity, gold accounts for more than 40 per cent of total export revenues, playing a crucial role in stabilising the economy.
The sector also generates substantial tax revenue through royalties, corporate income tax, and other levies paid by mining companies to the state.
Gold mining also supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs across the country.
Large-scale mining companies employ thousands of Ghanaians, while the small-scale sector provides livelihoods for an estimated one million people.
The editors commended the Minister for his resolve and efforts so far towards ending the menace and pledged their commitment to the national cause.
They urged transparency, consistent updates on the situation, and patriotic collaboration to ensure the success of the anti-galamsey campaign.
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