President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his administration’s determination to end illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, assuring Ghanaians that the government is taking bold, practical steps to address the long-standing menace.
Speaking at a national dialogue with civil society organisations in Accra, the President described galamsey as one of Ghana’s most pressing national challenges, which continues to devastate water bodies, farmlands, and forest reserves.
He acknowledged that the fight is complex and cannot be won overnight, saying, “I had no illusions that within seven months I was going to win the fight against galamsey. It was not going to be an event; it is a process. Mistakes have been made, but lessons have been learned.”
President Mahama outlined a series of interventions aimed at confronting illegal mining from multiple fronts. These include the registration and tracking of excavators, enforcement of import regulations, sustained military operations in forest reserves, recruitment of Blue Water Guards to protect major rivers, and the reclamation of degraded lands.
“Every excavator is now required to be registered, with its owner clearly identified,” he explained. “If an excavator is found in a forest reserve, the owner will be held accountable. We have also introduced a geofencing policy that allows us to trace machines that move beyond approved areas.”
According to him, over a thousand Blue Water Guards have already been deployed along key river bodies such as the Ankobra, with plans to extend the initiative to the Pra and Birim rivers.
The President noted that sustaining the anti-galamsey fight requires significant financial and logistical support. He said the government would work with Parliament to increase budgetary allocations for the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to strengthen operations.
“We need a substantially bigger budget than we currently have to win this war,” he said. “As we deploy more troops and channel more resources, I am confident that gradually, we will begin to see results.”
President Mahama stressed that enforcement efforts must go beyond targeting young miners on the ground and focus on arresting and prosecuting the key financiers and masterminds who profit from illegal mining.
“Most of those caught are young people seeking livelihoods,” he noted. “The real culprits are the financiers and operators behind the scenes. Those are the people we must go after.”
He added that Ghana is studying successful international models, such as Chile’s formalization of 90 percent of its small-scale mining sector, to develop a sustainable and lawful framework for the industry.
“If countries like Chile have achieved such progress, Ghana can too,” he said.
President Mahama also revealed plans to incorporate modern technology, including artificial intelligence mapping, satellite seismic surveys, and mercury-free gold processing methods, to promote responsible and environmentally friendly mining practices.
“While we fight galamsey, we must also embrace technologies that protect our environment,” he said. “It is not enough to stop illegal miners; we must reclaim our degraded lands and detoxify our rivers.”
He added that pilot projects using specific tree species to restore mined areas have yielded encouraging results, with expected support from climate funds and international environmental initiatives.
Addressing public concerns about political interference, President Mahama firmly denied any personal or governmental involvement in illegal mining.
“I don’t benefit from galamsey,” he declared. “I am not involved in it, and I have no interest in seeing it continue. We are all on the same side — working to hand over to our children an environment as beautiful as the one our forefathers gave us.”
The President concluded by calling on citizens, civil society, and the media to remain active partners in the campaign, urging continuous vigilance and public advocacy to ensure accountability.
“Continue to put our feet to the fire,” he said. “That will encourage us to work harder and ensure that we win this fight — not for politics, but for Ghana’s future.”
Source: gbcghanaonline.com
