The government’s intensified campaign against illegal mining (galamsey) has led to the arrest of 1,400 people in just eight months, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has disclosed.
Speaking on GTV on Wednesday, September 24, Mr. Buah compared the figure to the 800 arrests recorded over nearly three years under the previous administration, insisting that the current strategy is producing clear results.
“We have seized 440 excavators and more than 800 changfans. We have mobilised Blue Water Guards in key regions, and they are making a difference,” he said.
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The Minister stressed, however, that enforcement alone will not end galamsey. He explained that government is also providing sustainable alternatives for those willing to mine legally.
“If you want to do mining, we are going to give you the training and build your capacity to work with large-scale mining companies,” he noted.
Mr. Buah reaffirmed government’s commitment to a balanced approach—one that safeguards the environment while creating regulated opportunities in the mining sector.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem