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The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced significant progress in the government’s ongoing fight against illegal mining (galamsey), revealing that 1,400 arrests have been made in just eight months.
Speaking on GTV on Wednesday, September 24, the Minister highlighted the results of intensified enforcement under the current administration, contrasting it with the 800 arrests recorded over nearly three years during the previous government.
“We have seized 440 excavators and more than 800 changfans. We have mobilised Blue Water Guards in key regions, and they are making a difference,” Mr. Buah stated.
Enforcement Backed by Sustainable Alternatives
While underscoring the success of the enforcement strategy, the Minister emphasized that crackdowns alone are not a long-term solution. The government, he said, is also focused on creating legal and sustainable alternatives for small-scale miners.
“We are now providing critical alternatives. If you want to do mining, we are going to give you the training and build your capacity to work with large-scale mining companies,” he explained.
Balanced Approach to Natural Resource Management
Mr. Buah reiterated that the government is committed to a balanced and sustainable mining policy that safeguards the environment while offering regulated pathways for economic participation.
“This is not just about stopping galamsey—it’s about transforming the entire mining landscape to one that is productive, legal, and environmentally responsible,” he added.
This announcement aligns with the broader government agenda to foster a green transition, as recently emphasized by the Ministry of Energy’s $500 billion net-zero strategy, and signals a multi-pronged approach to achieving sustainable development in Ghana.
