Gov’t won’t shield anyone in galamsey fight – Environment Minister

The government has reiterated its commitment to holding all illegal miners accountable, including politically exposed individuals, as public pressure mounts over the fight against galamsey.

Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed says no one will be protected, as investigations continue into several cases, including a petition against the Member of Parliament for Aowin, Oscar Ofori Larbi.

Speaking on Newsnight on Joy FM, the Minister stressed that the government will not interfere in any illegal mining case.

“This government is not willing under any circumstances to shield anybody who is engaging in this,” he said. “All the concerns that have been raised are concerns that are being dealt with. There is a petition against the sitting Member of Parliament, and the presidency has acknowledged receipt of the petition. The necessary investigations are being done on the matter.”

The petition, filed by the Coalition Against Illegal Mining, was based on claims first made by the Aowin Traditional Council in January. The group has accused the government of dragging its feet in tackling cases involving powerful figures.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the Coalition also called for the repeal of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which it says allows for too much discretion in granting mining permits. However, the Environment Minister did not commit to repealing the law.

Instead, he explained that a key concern, the President’s power to authorise mining in forest reserves, has already been addressed under a new regulation.

“Today, L.I. 2463 is now a law,” he said. “The major concern they had was the authorisation the presidency had to allow mining in forest reserve areas. That privilege has been taken away. I acknowledge there are still concerns about other aspects of the law, and I can assure everyone that these are issues the government is considering seriously.”

Meanwhile, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, has pushed back against the perception that Chinese nationals are the main drivers of illegal mining in the country.

Speaking at a press briefing, he described the individuals arrested for galamsey as migrant workers brought in by Ghanaians, and criticised the way they are treated.

“The issue does not originate from the Chinese,” the Ambassador insisted. “Chinese people cannot get the licence, cannot get the permit. It’s the Ghanaian people who draw Chinese people over here… They are just like migrant workers.”

He also raised concerns about prison conditions in Ghana, particularly for Chinese nationals detained for illegal mining activities.

“Your cell condition is very poor, I was told. They cannot even provide food for them,” he said, adding that the treatment of Chinese suspects was “unfair”

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