The Municipal Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA) in Amenfi East, Nana Odeefour Boadi, has urged government to decentralise the process of acquiring mining licenses, saying the move could significantly reduce the problem of illegal mining, widely known as galamsey.
Speaking to journalists, Nana Boadi dismissed the view that unemployment is the sole driver of galamsey. He explained that while joblessness contributes to the problem, many young people turn to illegal mining because the formal licensing process is too complicated and inaccessible.
“Licensing is overly bureaucratic and this pushes the youth towards illegal alternatives,” he said.
He proposed that the NYA be included on local mining boards at the district level to help regulate and monitor mining activities. According to him, the authority’s direct engagement with young people places it in a unique position to support responsible and sustainable mining from the grassroots.
Nana Boadi described mining as a lucrative industry that could offer opportunities for national development if well managed. He argued that streamlining access to licenses would encourage more young people to pursue mining legally rather than through galamsey.
Commenting on recent calls for a state of emergency to combat illegal mining, he cautioned that such measures might not yield lasting results. “Declaring a state of emergency will not solve the root causes. It may only create tension,” he said.
Instead, he stressed the need for proper education, monitoring, and regulation of mining activities to promote sustainability. He concluded by calling on government to decentralise the licensing process and involve youth-focused institutions in mining governance to empower young people and curb galamsey.
