The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) has outlined significant strides in its ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining and restore sanity to Ghana’s mining sector.
According to a statement from the Ministry’s Communications Directorate, a centralized operational command centre, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has been established to coordinate the national fight against illegal mining, otherwise known as “galamsey.” The Inspector-General of Police’s Anti-Galamsey Task Force has since been recalled to ensure seamless collaboration with NAIMOS.
So far, 440 excavators have been seized and are being kept at various police stations, district offices, and military bases. Additionally, over 1,400 suspected illegal miners have been arrested and are awaiting prosecution, while more than 300 chanfans (floating platforms used for mining) have been destroyed by the newly recruited Blue Water Guards. The Ministry disclosed that 980 of these guards have been trained and deployed to protect major water bodies in the Western and Savannah regions.
In a related move, the Ministry has confiscated 900 water pumps from illegal mining sites and handed them over to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for redistribution to farmers. Authorities have also reclaimed nine forest reserves previously under the control of armed illegal miners.
However, the Jimira Forest Reserve and the Anwia Futu section of the Offin Shelterbelt have reportedly been re-invaded, prompting the military and NAIMOS to mount operations to secure the reserves and support Forest Guards.
To enhance transparency and accountability, the Ministry has introduced an excavator tracking system, registering over 1,015 pieces of earth-moving and mining equipment, with 647 already fitted with tracking devices. More than 600 additional machines are expected to be equipped soon.
Meanwhile, a comprehensive review of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and the Minerals and Mining Policy (2014) is nearing completion following extensive stakeholder engagements. The revised framework is expected to promote equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity for mining communities.
In line with government’s commitment to protect forest reserves, the Ministry confirmed that no mining licenses have been granted in forest reserves since the current administration assumed office. The Ministry is also working with the Attorney General to revoke L.I. 2462, which regulates mining in forest reserves.
A recent audit of the licensing regime has led to the revocation of 55 fraudulently acquired small-scale mining licenses, while an additional 900 licenses face possible cancellation. The Minerals Commission is finalizing its review, after which an official announcement will be made. The audit exercise will also be extended to large-scale mining companies.
Furthermore, the Ministry has rolled out the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), which seeks to formalize small-scale mining and build the capacity of local communities. The programme has so far engaged about 30 communities across Western, Central, Ashanti, Savannah, Upper West, and Upper East regions, with mobile licensing teams set to assist cooperatives with registration in the coming weeks.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to sanitizing Ghana’s mining sector, protecting the environment, and ensuring that the nation’s mineral wealth benefits all citizens, particularly communities affected by mining activities.
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