War on Galamsey: Over 500 Arrested, But Prosecution Remains a Challenge - Gov't
Accra, Ghana - 09 June, 2025 - The Ghanaian government has intensified its efforts to combat illegal mining, also known as galamsey, with over 500 arrests made in the last five months alone. This renewed crackdown is part of a broader initiative aimed at reversing the environmental destruction caused by years of unchecked mining activities.
According to officials, the government's efforts are focused on protecting farmlands, water sources, and livelihoods across affected communities.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, revealed that the arrests were part of a larger strategy to address the challenges posed by illegal mining. However, despite the increased enforcement, concerns remain about the effectiveness of the government's anti-galamsey campaign due to the persistently low rate of prosecution. Between 2022 and 2024, out of 845 arrests made, only 35 cases were prosecuted, representing a mere 4% prosecution rate.
“From 2022 to 2024, out of 845 arrests we made, we couldn’t even prosecute. Only 35 were prosecuted, and that is 4%, and that is really the challenge we had to face,” he said.
Minister Buah attributed the low prosecution rate to several factors, including political interference in the licensing process. He noted that in the past, licenses were often granted to politically connected individuals, who would then proceed to mine without proper oversight. To address this issue, the government is working to strengthen the integrity of mining regulation and ensure that due diligence is followed in the licensing process.
“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,” he said.
In a bid to restore damaged lands, the government has launched a major land restoration initiative targeting 10,000 hectares of degraded land. President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed the government's commitment to tackling illegal mining and restoring the environment.
The President emphasized the need for collaboration between the government, private sector, and other stakeholders to achieve this goal.
“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,” the President said.
Source: Lead News Online
