President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his government’s commitment to ending illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, assuring Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the public that the necessary political will is in place to address the menace.
Speaking at a meeting with CSOs in Accra, the President reflected on Ghana’s long history with mining, recalling that gold was among the earliest commodities traded with the Portuguese upon their arrival in Elmina centuries ago.
“Mining in Ghana has a long history. When the Portuguese first came to Elmina, one of the first things we sold to them was gold. Our forefathers were involved in mining,” he said.
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He, however, noted that unlike today, traditional mining practices were less harmful to the environment. “They used pickaxes and shovels, so the capacity to cause environmental destruction was very limited. The whole situation changed when small-scale mining operations began using heavy machinery such as excavators and bulldozers,” Mr. Mahama explained.
The President traced the formalisation of small-scale mining to the PNDC era, when reforms were introduced to empower Ghanaian-owned mining ventures. While artisanal mining had long existed using basic tools, he observed that the introduction of modern equipment significantly escalated the environmental challenges.
“There is a difference between artisanal and small-scale mining. Artisanal miners worked with simple tools, but once licenses were granted for small-scale mining, the use of excavators increased, and that is where our current crisis stems from,” he added.
Acknowledging the scale and complexity of the problem, President Mahama urged continuous collaboration with stakeholders and advocacy from civil society to sustain momentum in the fight.
“I want to assure you that we are determined to win this fight. Your contributions, criticisms, and pressure are welcome. Keep up your advocacy, and together, we will overcome this challenge,” he said.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem