Mahama Ayariga
Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in mining-prone districts have been directed to submit comprehensive reports identifying illegal mining (galamsey) sites and affected communities within 30 days.
The directive was announced by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, at the National Conference for MMDCEs held at the Lancaster Hotel in Kumasi on Monday (1 November).
The conference, organised under the theme, “Combating Illegal Mining in Ghana: The Role of Local Governments,” focused on strengthening the involvement of local authorities in the fight against illegal and unsustainable mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, called for stronger oversight at the local level, saying the fight against illegal mining required coordinated action by local government authorities, regulatory institutions and security agencies.
He stressed that effective regulation and institutional collaboration were essential to addressing the illegal mining menace and promoting responsible management of the country’s mineral resources.
Mr Tandoh also highlighted government’s efforts and the challenges confronting the fight, urging local authorities and security agencies to prioritise coordinated interventions.
The President of the National House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, who chaired the conference, underscored the role of traditional authorities in protecting Ghana’s natural resources.
The National Security Coordinator, COP Abdul Razak Osman, and the Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Colonel K. S. Appiah, also addressed the gathering on the contribution of security agencies to the fight against illegal mining.
The discussions highlighted the role of local authorities in supporting national interventions, monitoring mining activities within their jurisdictions and working with regulatory and security institutions to improve enforcement and accountability.
The conference brought together ministers, traditional authorities, security agencies and local government leaders to examine challenges confronting the fight against galamsey and identify practical ways to strengthen collaboration.
Participants included the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah; his deputy, Dr Yusif Sulemana; the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings; the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka; and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene.
