Illegal mining is no longer a partisan matter but a shared national responsibility, according to Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah.
Speaking at the launch of the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Program (RCOMSDEP) in Bibiani, the minister stressed that Ghana’s fight against galamsey cannot succeed through security crackdowns alone. He urged education, sensitization, and community involvement, calling on all Ghanaians to see the protection of the country’s forests and rivers as a duty owed to future generations.
“The greed of a few should not lead to the destruction of life,” Mr. Buah said. “Our ancestors preserved the forest vegetation for us, and it is now our turn to safeguard it. This is no longer an NDC or NPP issue.”
The new program, RCOMSDEP, seeks to regulate small-scale mining by providing clear procedures for acquiring licenses and promoting responsible practices. It also emphasizes land reclamation, community development, and job creation to reduce the lure of illegal mining.
National Coordinator of RCOMSDEP, Frank Asare Pedro, underlined the urgency of the initiative, noting that polluted water bodies threaten life itself. He explained that the program will offer alternatives to galamsey while restoring degraded lands.
Local leaders echoed the call for action. The MP for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, Bright Asamoah Brefo, lamented the devastation illegal mining has caused in his constituency, leaving some youth without purpose and rivers poisoned. He said the program could give young people hope and a chance to rebuild their lives.
Traditional authorities also pledged support. Representing the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso, Nana Osuaaman Ackah Panin II urged chiefs to stop leasing lands to illegal miners and instead join efforts to protect the forests. He appealed for government collaboration to allow established cocoa farmers to continue harvesting, while discouraging new farming activities in forest reserves.
The minister concluded that winning the fight against galamsey will take collective will, not political divides. “Protecting the soul of our country is a responsibility we must all share,” he said.
