Attorney General and Minister for Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame has charged the Chief Justice to issue a directive to judges handling illegal mining (galamsey) cases.

He urged them to conclude ongoing trials within one month from the start of the new legal year on October 10, 2024.

Speaking at the Annual Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG), Mr Dame stated the urgent need for swift justice in galamsey-related cases, which has significantly damaged Ghana’s environment.

In his address, the Attorney General expressed deep concern over the slow pace at which galamsey cases are being adjudicated in courts across the country.

He highlighted that over 140 galamsey cases involving more than 850 accused persons are still pending in various courts, with some dating back as far as 2020.

This situation, according to him, is unacceptable given the severe harm caused by illegal mining activities to the nation’s forests and water bodies.

“We are in an urgent national crisis and all citizens and institutions with any form of role to play must be called to action,” Mr. Dame said, adding that the lack of urgency in resolving galamsey cases undermines the government’s efforts to curb the menace.

The 2019 amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act introduced harsher penalties for those convicted of illegal mining, with a minimum 15-year prison term plus a heavy fine for Ghanaians, and a minimum 20-year sentence for foreigners.

However, the Attorney General lamented that these deterrent measures are ineffective due to the slow rate of convictions.

“Convictions are secured, but they come in trickles,” he noted, urging the Judiciary to prioritize these cases.

“Your Ladyship, I therefore respectfully call on you to direct all judges sitting on galamsey cases to conclude the cases, the hearing of which has started, within one month from the commencement of the legal year on October 10, 2024.”

Mr. Dame also criticized political figures who advocate for amnesty for galamsey offenders, stating that such actions only exacerbate the situation.

“Politicians must desist from encouraging galamsey through their rhetoric and actions. Those who preach amnesty for galamsey offenders must be rejected,” he said.

He added that there should be no place for leniency in addressing such crimes, given the risk posed to the lives of citizens and the future of the nation.

The Attorney General’s call for expedited trials comes at a time when Ghana is grappling with the environmental and social impacts of illegal mining.

With river bodies heavily polluted and forest reserves under threat, many view swift and decisive action from the Judiciary as a critical step in addressing the crisis.