Professor Ransford Gyampo has listed measures he says the government has introduced to tackle illegal mining, including the work of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, new tribunals and the seizure of more than 250 excavators and other galamsey equipment.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, the government has also repealed legislation he said allowed people to mine in forest areas and taken over forest areas designated as no-go zones.
Prof Gyampo said the government had also reformed the mining licensing regime and revoked licences he described as having been inappropriately issued after the December 7, 2024 elections.
He further cited measures to overhaul and decentralise the mining licensing process and track excavators at the ports.
Other measures he listed included the reclamation of degraded lands and engagement with civil society organisations on how to address galamsey.
Prof Gyampo also mentioned alternative livelihood programmes, including the Blue Water Initiative, which he said had deployed about 400 guards.
He said more than 250 excavators and other galamsey equipment had been seized.
According to Prof Gyampo, more than 250 people are currently being prosecuted, which he said is higher than the number of galamsey prosecutions recorded over the previous eight years.
He said these measures were still in force even though illegal mining continued to persist.
“The fight is on and the outlined measures are still in force,” he said.
