The government will take a decisive action in the national interest against the scourge of illegal mining, taking into consideration the heightened national discourse, including the demand for an immediate ban on all forms of small-scale mining, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has stated. He said a crunch national security […]
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has suggested that some Members of Parliament may be involved in illegal mining or promote it by their actions. The Speaker made this statement during a two-day emergency sitting of Parliament, during which MPs discussed the illegal mining problem as the devastation on water bodies has intensified. The MPs […]
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has destooled three chiefs in the Ashanti Region for their involvement in illegal mining (galamsey). The three chiefs — Gyaasehene of Sabronum, Nana Awua Gyau Atuomi; Sabronum’s Akyeamehene and the Baamuhene — have been banned from performing any traditional mandate on behalf of the Asantehene, who is the Overlord […]
The Forestry Commission has called for the immediate redeployment of the military to help halt illegal mining and other destructive activities in forest reserves across the country. The commission said the withdrawal of the military from the fight against galamsey in forest reserves since 2022 had emboldened illegal miners to wreak havoc on forest reserves […]
Ten persons including two policemen have been arrested by the Rapid Response Unit of the Forestry Commission in the Juaboso District of the Western North Region. They include four Chinese nationals identified as Men Shi Yu, 30, Wen Yong Cheng, 30, Wen Fu Lin, 58 and Lee Pin, 60, their four Ghanaian collaborators, Edward Owusu, […]
Ten illegal miners whose activities have caused massive destruction to the Oda River Forest Reserve in the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti Region, have been arrested. The 10, made up of seven Ghanaian nationals and three Chinese nationals, were arrested in a three-day operation by the Bekwai Forest District of the Forest Services Division […]
Government says it is committed to ending illegal mining with the establishment of small-scale community mining schemes. According to Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, illegal mining generally occurs in abandoned shafts or within improperly closed mines. He said government will implement intermediate and permanent measures to manage these sites and […]
Only five miners out of suspected 30 who were trapped under an illegal mining pit that caved in on Monday at Korley Teye in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region have so far been rescued alive. Seven of the miners died in the ordeal, with locals frantically trying with all manner of implements […]
A total of 727 individuals are currently standing trial across the country over their alleged involvement in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, the Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has disclosed. According to the A-G, the 727 individuals were involved in 117 cases pending before various High Courts and Circuit Courts. […]
Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has refuted claims by former President John Dramani Mahama that the cocoa sector in Ghana has collapsed. The former President had reportedly claimed that the producer price and mismanagement had led to the collapse of the cocoa sector, thereby justifying farmers giving up their cocoa farms to illegal mining due to […]
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed the Ghana Police Service to commence investigations into allegations made by a former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, concerning the engagement of some New Patriotic Party (NPP) bigwigs in illegal mining activities, popularly known as “galamsey”. The President gave the directive last week, and […]
The Minerals Commission is to install tracking devices on 4,000 excavators and earthmoving equipment as part of measures to clamp down on illegal mining activities. Currently, 75 excavators have been affixed with tracking devices and their activities being monitored from a control room at the commission. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu […]
