The John Dramani Mahama-led government has revealed that over 500 illegal miners commonly known as galamseyers have been arrested in the last five months.
The persistently low rate of prosecution is fuelling concerns about the overall effectiveness of the country’s anti-galamsey campaign.
Galamsey activities still threaten farmlands, pollute water sources, and disrupt livelihoods across affected parts of the country.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah the Lands and Natural Resources noted that the previous enforcement’s biggest setback was securing convictions.
He stated, “For those who were getting the licenses, they were getting them because they were politically connected, so we were not following due diligence in doing it.
Often time people will take licenses from Accra and go to a mining community, wave it, and this is the first time in seen the investor. All of that had to change”.
The government has also revealed plans to roll out a major land restoration initiative targeting 10,000 hectares of degraded land.
President John Dramani Mahama affirmed, “The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the GoldBod, is also soon to launch the incorporation with the private sector, an ambitious project to reclaim 10,000 hectares of mined-out lands, so let us move from competition to collaboration”.
Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana has imposed an immediate ban on the importation of excavators into the country as part of efforts to curb illegal mining and protect the nation’s water bodies.
According to reports, the ban on excavators follows a renewed fight against illegal mining.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Transport and signed by Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe announced the implementation of a new policy dubbed “No Permit, No Excavator,” which takes effect immediately.
