Minority Demands Sammy Gyamfi’s Resignation Over Galamsey Comments

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called for the immediate resignation or dismissal of Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi over remarks it says suggest that small-scale miners can operate without the required licences and permits.

The Caucus has also demanded an unqualified apology from Mr Gyamfi, government sanctions and a clear roadmap from President John Dramani Mahama to end illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Minority questioned the legal basis for allowing small-scale mining outside restricted areas without the necessary authorisation, warning that such an approach could undermine the enforcement of Ghana’s mining laws.

It further challenged the rationale behind any proposed exemptions, asking whether similar allowances could be extended to mining activities in schools, hospitals, markets, places of worship, Parliament and the Jubilee House.

“Sammy Gyamfi should resign immediately as CEO of GOLDBOD; failing that, he should be dismissed to restore the institution’s credibility,” the statement said.

The Minority cited the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), particularly Sections 9(1) and 82(1), which address licensing requirements for mining operations, as well as Section 89, which provides for the designation of areas for small-scale mining.

It urged the government to publicly condemn the comments attributed to Mr Gyamfi and take appropriate action, insisting that all mining activities must comply with the law.

Beyond the controversy, the Caucus called for a comprehensive audit of GoldBod’s records to determine whether gold purchases can be traced from their source at the mine to the market and whether transactions comply with responsible-sourcing standards.

The Minority also urged President Mahama to declare a state of emergency in areas identified as high-risk galamsey hotspots as part of efforts to intensify the fight against illegal mining.

Additionally, it called for the formal establishment and operation of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) through a Legislative Instrument (L.I.) to provide a clear legal framework for its activities.

“To declare a state of emergency in all the red flag galamsey hotspots and to formalise the establishment and operations of NAIMOS through an L.I. to give meaning and structure to it,” the statement added.

The demands come amid continuing national debate over the enforcement of mining regulations and efforts to curb illegal mining and its impact on Ghana’s environment and natural resources.