In a determined effort to combat illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced a series of sweeping measures aimed at reforming the small-scale mining sector and reclaiming degraded lands. Speaking at a joint press briefing on March 19, 2025, and later addressing Parliament, Mr. Buah outlined the government’s comprehensive strategy, which includes the revocation of licenses, disbandment of community mining schemes, intensified law enforcement, and ambitious land restoration initiatives.

One of the most significant steps taken by the government is the revocation of all small-scale mining licenses issued after December 7, 2024. Mr. Buah explained that these licenses were granted without due process and proper regulatory oversight. "We are going full steam ahead to revoke all licenses based on the findings...those licenses from December 7 were rushed. Review processes were not followed; the right things were not done," he stated. Affected parties will, however, have the opportunity to appeal the decision, ensuring that the right processes are followed.

Further underscoring the commitment to sanitize the mining sector, the government has disbanded all existing community mining schemes. According to Mr. Buah, these schemes had failed to benefit local communities as originally intended. They will be replaced by small-scale mining cooperatives that ensure greater participation and ownership by community members. "The findings indicate that these community mining schemes do not represent the communities. They have to be disbanded and replaced with small-scale mining cooperatives that actually serve and benefit the communities," he clarified. These cooperatives will be subject to strict due diligence and regulatory oversight to promote responsible and sustainable mining practices, including training regimes for local participants.

To ensure comprehensive oversight of the small-scale mining sector, the government will establish a Small-Scale Mining Technical Review Committee. This committee, chaired by the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and comprising representatives from key regulatory bodies such as the Minerals Commission, EPA, Water Resources Commission, Forestry Commission, and the Attorney General’s Office, will audit all existing small-scale mining licenses. The committee's mandate includes ensuring that licenses were obtained through due process, assessing compliance with environmental regulations, and reviewing the impact of license holders on water bodies, forest reserves, and land preservation efforts. License holders are expected to cooperate fully with this committee, which has been given two months to complete its assignment. Failure to comply with the verification process will result in the revocation of licenses.

In addition to these measures, the government is actively working to reclaim forest reserves that have been overrun by illegal mining activities. Mr. Buah announced that seven out of nine forest reserves have already been successfully reclaimed through joint security task force operations involving the military, police, and the Forestry Commission’s rapid response team. These operations have led to the confiscation of at least 60 excavators and other equipment. The government is committed to reclaiming the remaining two forest reserves and ensuring the protection of the country's natural resources.

Enforcement efforts have also been intensified, resulting in the seizure of 56 excavators, 25 "chanfang" machines, and the arrest of 18 individuals in joint military and Forestry Commission operations across three regions. Mr. Buah assured lawmakers that these arrests were made strictly based on illegal activities, without political bias. He emphasized that the fight against illegal mining must not be influenced by political power and that anyone found engaging in illegal mining, regardless of their political connections, will face the full force of the law. Investigations are also ongoing into allegations of political interference in enforcement efforts.

Looking ahead, the government is considering the introduction of a medium-scale mining classification to bridge the gap between small-scale and large-scale mining operations. This initiative aims to provide a more structured and regulated framework for mining activities that fall between the two existing categories.

To address the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, President John Mahama is set to launch the ‘Tree for Life Restoration Initiative’ on March 21 in the Ashanti Region. This project aims to rehabilitate mined-out areas while creating green jobs for youth in affected communities. Additionally, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has introduced the ‘Blue Water Initiative’ to restore heavily polluted river bodies.

These efforts are complemented by ongoing parliamentary debates on Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which seeks to strip the President of the power to grant mining permits in forest reserves. Although its presentation was initially blocked by the Minority caucus, a pre-laying process has been mandated to ensure deeper scrutiny before its adoption. The government's commitment to protecting forest reserves remains unwavering.

Mr. Buah called on all stakeholders to support the government’s efforts to ensure sustainable mining practices in Ghana. The ultimate goal is to protect the country’s natural resources for future generations and ensure that mining activities are conducted in a responsible and environmentally sustainable manner.