The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has reiterated government’s intensified efforts to combat the growing menace of illegal mining in the country.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Accra, the Minister emphasised the government’s determination to employ every lawful means available to tackle illegal mining, stressing that there would be no safe haven for illegal miners.
5-pillar approach
Mr. Buah outlined a comprehensive five-pillar approach and strategy aimed at addressing the multiple facets of the issue. The first pillar involves reforming the licensing regime, with the government seeking to ensure transparency and accountability in the issuance of mining permits. This measure, he explained, was crucial in curbing the illegal activities that often arise from the issuance of mining licenses under questionable circumstances.
The second pillar focuses on strengthening law enforcement efforts, with an increased crackdown on illegal mining operations. The government is prioritizing the prosecution of offenders to create a deterrent against the perpetuation of illegal mining activities. In addition, the Minister highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Mr. Buah called for partnerships with traditional leaders, local authorities, and civil society groups to promote sustainable mining practices that can safeguard Ghana’s natural resources.
A significant part of the government’s strategy was the reclamation of degraded lands. The Minister emphasised the importance of restoring areas that had been adversely affected by illegal mining, aiming to rehabilitate the environment and enforce responsible mining practices. He further assured that efforts would continue to rehabilitate lands, with particular focus on areas that had been significantly damaged by illegal operations.
Lastly, he mentioned that the government was committed to supporting communities affected by illegal mining through the provision of alternative livelihoods. According to him, these initiatives will provide sustainable income opportunities for those whose livelihoods have traditionally depended on the mining sector. He added that, by offering such alternatives, the government seeks to reduce the reliance on illegal mining and promote more environmentally sustainable sources of income for local populations.
Progress made
The Minister also provided an update on the significant progress made in reclaiming forest reserves previously overrun by armed illegal miners. He revealed that seven out of nine forest reserves previously controlled by illegal miners had been successfully reclaimed, including areas such as Jimira and Jimira Extension, Afao Hills, Tano Anwia, and others.
He revealed that efforts were underway to reclaim the remaining reserves, Asenayo and Desiri, with the government working diligently to regain control over these areas and restore their ecological balance.
He indicated that ongoing operations to combat illegal mining had been bolstered by joint military-forestry operations, which had led to the seizure of 100 excavators, three bulldozers, and four vehicles. These actions, he said, were part of a broader strategy to curb illegal mining activities, with further plans to conduct geological surveys of mineral-rich areas to monitor and manage resources effectively.
He mentioned that geotagging and geofencing technologies were also being employed to track the movement and use of excavators, ensuring that illegal mining activities could be swiftly identified and dealt with.
The Lands Minister also emphasised the importance of public education in fostering environmental protection. Public education campaigns, he said, would be integrated into school curricula, with a focus on raising awareness about the environmental and social impacts of illegal mining. Additionally, he said the decentralization of mining licenses was being explored as a means to improve transparency and reduce opportunities for corruption in the mining sector.
He further called on traditional leaders, local assemblies, and civil society organizations to lend their support to the fight against illegal mining. “We must safeguard Ghana’s natural resources for future generations,” he stated.
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