Arrest And Prosecute Illegal Miners (Galamsey) – President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has given the order to arrest and prosecute illegal miners with immediate effect anywhere they are found in the country.
He said he has not issued any lease to anybody to mine in any forest in the country and any person found engaged in the act must be dealt with in accordance with law.
He gave this order at the Presidency in Accra on Thursday 30th January 2025, when he commissioned fourteen (14) ministers made up of six (6) sector ministers and eight (8) regional ministers.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this government has not given any person or group permission to engage in any form of mining within our forest reserves,” he publicized.
President Mahama also stated that it shall be the policy of his government to ban the issuance of leases for mining in all forest reserves in the country.
President Mahama showed certainty in the new set of ministers to deliver towards the resetting Ghana agenda as he admonished them to serve in humility.
“Power is transient and public office is a revolving door that can see you leave just as quickly as you came in. Go ye forth and out in your very best to help us reset this country and make it the Ghana we all want,” President Mahama said.
“As Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, you’ll be responsible for protecting the environment from destructive galamsey activities and ensuring the effective management of our natural resources,” he told the newly commissioned ministers.
“I urge them to take immediate steps to ensure the arrest and prosecution of any persons or group of persons engaged in this illegality,” President Mahama emphasized.
The sector ministers are: Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Defence; Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, Interior; Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Lands and Natural Resources; Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Gender, Children and Social Protection; Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Works, Housing and Water Resources; and Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Minister of State, Special Initiatives.
The regional ministers are: John Kwadwo Gyapong, Oti; Tia Ibrahim, North East; Dr Frank Amoakohene, Ashanti; and Akamugri Atanga Modestus, Upper East.
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The others are: Ali Adolf John, Northern; James Gunu, Volta Region; Mrs Rita Akosua Awatey, Eastern; and Madam Linda Akweley Ocloo, Greater Accra.
“I also need to state that no member of this government is permitted to engage in any form of small scale mining. Any such persons will face sanctions which shall be swift and severe,” he declared.
The arrest and prosecute illegal miners (Galamsey) directive if carried out is expected to bring sanity into the minig sector and save Ghana’s water bodies, forest and the entire environment.