The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced a bold new strategy to combat illegal mining (galamsey), placing traditional leaders and local government officials at the forefront of the national effort.

Speaking at an orientation session for newly appointed Municipal, Metropolitan, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the Minister emphasised that decentralising the fight against illegal mining is now a key national priority.

“Chiefs and MMDCEs will play a crucial role in fighting galamsey,” Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah stated.

“Traditional leaders and local authorities will assume direct oversight responsibility in monitoring and managing mining operations within their respective jurisdictions.”

The move comes in response to the alarming degradation of Ghana’s environment, with an estimated 16 percent of the country's land reserves already destroyed due to illegal mining.

Rivers, farmlands, and forests continue to suffer from pollution, deforestation, and abandoned mining pits, raising public concern and calls for urgent action.

The Minister outlined a bottom-up approach that will empower local stakeholders in key decision-making processes, including the issuance of mining licenses.

By involving those closest to the affected communities, the government aims to improve enforcement, accountability, and community ownership of natural resource management.

Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah presented the new policy as a multi-faceted response to the galamsey crisis, which includes:

Reclaiming and restoring degraded lands

Providing alternative livelihoods for affected communities

Reforming mining licenses and regulatory procedures

Strengthening law enforcement

Expanding public education and stakeholder engagement

He also issued a stern warning to MMDCEs, urging them to show unwavering commitment to the initiative and cautioning that any official found to be complicit in illegal mining will face the full force of the law.

“The Ministry will support you fully,” he said. “But we will not tolerate compromise. This is a national emergency, and we must act with urgency to safeguard our environment and secure our future.”