The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has emphasized the critical role of the media in combating illegal small-scale mining, known as “galamsey.”
During a meeting with news editors and senior journalists from major media houses in Accra on Monday, the minister called for decisive, inclusive, and radical solutions to address the galamsey menace.
The engagement aimed to demystify the complexities of illegal mining and rally media support, particularly in tackling its impact on water bodies and forest reserves.
The meeting coincided with reports of an attack on Forestry Commission officers.
Providing an overview of the situation inherited by the Mahama administration, the minister highlighted alarming statistics, noting that nine forest reserves had already been taken over by illegal miners when he assumed office.
He further disclosed that turbidity levels in water treated by the Ghana Water Company Limited ranged between 5,000 and 12,000 NTU—more than 10 times the permissible limit of 500 NTU for water treatment.
“The scale of land degradation is equally staggering, with illegal mining consuming an area equivalent to 7,500 football fields,” he added.
To curb and ultimately eradicate illegal mining, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah outlined a five-pillar strategy:
- Enforcement of Existing Laws – Strengthening collaboration with law enforcement agencies to intensify crackdowns on illegal activities.
- Structural Overhaul – Reshuffling teams assigned to mining sites and forest reserves to prevent complacency and ensure adequate coverage.
- Stakeholder Engagement – Involving traditional leaders, local authorities, and District Security Councils in the licensing process for small-scale miners.
- Technology Deployment – Establishing a real-time monitoring system to track mining equipment and activities.
- Public Sensitization – Partnering with the media to raise awareness and foster collective responsibility in the fight against galamsey.
The minister identified flaws in the current licensing system as a major enabler of illegal mining, explaining that its centralized nature excluded traditional rulers and local government officials, thereby weakening oversight.
To address this, he announced plans to decentralize the licensing regime, making traditional authorities and District Security Councils the first point of approval for mining permits.
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah urged the media to remain vocal and objective in the fight against galamsey, cautioning against politicizing the issue. He emphasized the media’s role as the fourth estate and called for their active support in amplifying government efforts.
The media practitioners commended the minister for the engagement and pledged to use their platforms to bolster the fight against illegal mining.
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