The Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Hon. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammad, has likened illegal mining, also known as galamsey, to an act of terrorism, warning that no individual, regardless of their political affiliation, will be exempt from the government’s crackdown on the practice.
Speaking to the media after the presentation of a report by the Technical Committee on small-scale mining reforms, Hon. Murtala Muhammad emphasized the urgent need for decisive action to combat the rampant illegal mining activities devastating the country.
“Galamsey is not just an environmental threat; it is an attack on the lives of our people, our water bodies, and the future of our nation. It is nothing short of economic and environmental terrorism, and we will fight it as such,” he stated forcefully.
The government has acted swiftly in response to the committee’s recommendations, revoking all small-scale mining licenses issued after December 7, 2024. Among the key recommendations from the committee are a complete overhaul of the Community Mining Scheme, the decentralization of mining license issuance, and the repeal of LI 2462, a law that grants the President authority to approve mining in forest reserves.
Hon. Murtala Muhammad assured the public that the government’s fight against illegal mining would be relentless. He delivered a stern warning, emphasizing that no one involved in galamsey, including political figures—regardless of their affiliation with the NDC or other parties—would escape punishment. “This is a fight we must win for the survival of our nation,” he declared.
The Technical Committee’s report revealed a disturbing state of affairs in the small-scale mining sector, highlighting systemic corruption, widespread environmental destruction, and the failure of the Community Mining Schemes to benefit local communities.
In light of these findings, the government has ordered the immediate disbandment of these schemes. They will be replaced by small-scale cooperatives, which will operate under strict oversight and with genuine community representation to ensure more sustainable and transparent mining practices.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, described the report as a comprehensive blueprint for a radical transformation of the small-scale mining sector.
“The report has equipped the ministry, and by extension the government, with all the information necessary to make punitive and transformative decisions in the small-scale mining sector,” he affirmed.
