.jpg)
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Elikem Kotoko, has issued a strong warning to individuals involved in illegal mining, cautioning that the government will begin publicly naming and shaming offenders if they fail to stop immediately.
His comments come in the wake of an alert from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), which revealed that mercury traces linked to illegal mining activities have been detected in locally consumed products, including turmeric and cereal mixes (Tom Brown). The disclosure has heightened public health concerns and intensified pressure on government to act.
In response, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has directed the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations (NAIMOS) Task Force to scale up enforcement and deal decisively with offenders.
Read Also: Follow Due Process Before Calling for Sanctions – Justin Kodua to Ken Agyapong’s Team
Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Monday, September 29, 2025, Mr. Kotoko stressed that social and political connections would no longer protect perpetrators.
“From this week onwards, if you are engaged in this enterprise, it is best you put a stop to it. There will be naming and shaming, and it doesn’t matter who you are, where you belong, or who you know,” he warned.
He also highlighted the crucial role of traditional authorities in curbing galamsey, pointing to Ghana’s land tenure system as a key factor.
“We all agree that traditional leaders play a major role because of our land tenure system. That’s why NAIMOS has been instructed to deepen engagement with them. This shouldn’t be seen as a political move where a politician intervenes. NAIMOS must take the lead. If they detect wrongdoing and you fail to correct it, then the military will be called in to act in the national interest,” he explained.
The government’s renewed measures underscore a tougher stance on illegal mining, linking the practice not only to environmental destruction but also to direct threats to public health and food safety.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem