Barely a week after officially taking office, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP, has begun engaging stakeholders, seeking the support of the Western Regional House of Chiefs in the government's renewed fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

On Thursday, 6 February 2025, a durbar was held in Sekondi-Takoradi, where the minister, an indigene of the region, expressed the heartfelt gratitude of President John Dramani Mahama and the entire leadership to the chiefs and residents of the Western Region for their massive support in the 2024 elections.

Addressing the chiefs during the meeting, Armah-Kofi Buah said the government recognises the huge expectations and responsibilities placed upon them by the chiefs and residents, with galamsey being a top priority.

He emphasised that his visit was to seek their support and endorsement as the Mahama government confronts the illegal mining menace under the campaign codenamed Operation Heal Ghana.

Armah-Kofi Buah, who is also the MP for the Ellembelle constituency, asserted that with the Western Region serving as the hub of Ghana’s natural resource exploitation, it is essential for the government to engage traditional authorities in its efforts to reset the country’s mining industry.

“I stand before you today to thank you, our esteemed chiefs and queen mothers, and the good people of the Western Region for your overwhelming support during the December 7th, 2024 elections, as well as during my vetting following my nomination,” he said.

“It is not for nothing that it is said that the best comes from the West. God has blessed us with an abundance of precious minerals, rich vegetation, and peace-loving people. It is in this light that the people of the Western Region look up to our revered chiefs and queen mothers for exemplary leadership, particularly in the fight against illegalities that destroy the precious gifts we have been given,” he noted.

“Therefore, I urge our traditional leaders to present a united front in leading us to preserve our region as the shining star of Ghana. Your unity is not just a strength but a necessity to safeguard the legacy of this land for future generations. To put it bluntly, the fight against galamsey must be led by our chiefs and traditional authorities in every part of this country,” the minister maintained.

“I was sworn in last week as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources by the president and assigned the arduous task of driving the campaign to 'Heal Ghana' and stop the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining and other illegal activities affecting our lands, forests, and water bodies."

"As a son of this region, I seek your blessings and utmost support to help us reset this nation for good and for generations yet unborn. The biggest challenges today are illegal mining, pollution of our water bodies, and degradation of our forest reserves.”

The minister further outlined key features of the government’s new anti-galamsey policy, focusing on introducing new initiatives while reviewing and improving existing strategies.

“As part of President Mahama’s Reset Agenda, several policy measures have been outlined to sanitise the mining sector, particularly the small-scale mining sub-sector. We want to ensure that mining operations are not conducted in unauthorised areas, such as water bodies, and that concession holders rehabilitate impacted areas."

"The government believes the current licensing regime can be improved by making it more inclusive,” he stated.

“We will strengthen the capacity of mining regulatory bodies to ensure quicker turnaround times and engage key stakeholders effectively for efficiency. As the custodians of the land in which these precious minerals are embedded, our chiefs must be actively engaged in the pre-and post-licensing processes to keep them informed about developments in their jurisdictions.

“The Community Mining Scheme, in its current form, lacks transparency and inclusivity, making it ineffective in addressing its intended purpose. It is highly partisan and counterproductive. We are abolishing it and establishing Artisanal Small-Scale Mining Cooperatives (ASMCs) for community members interested in artisanal small-scale mining."

"We will also facilitate the establishment of mining equipment pools in each small-scale mining district to ensure easy and affordable access to essential mining equipment,” he added.

Meanwhile, the minister used his visit to the House of Chiefs to broker peace among various factions within the traditional area to ensure unity and stability in the region. He cautioned against chieftaincy disputes and other conflicts that could derail the region’s progress.

Nana Kobina Nketsia V, the Paramount Chief (Omanhen) of the Essikado (British Sekondi) Traditional Area, commended Armah-Kofi Buah for taking the initiative to engage the chiefs on the government's plans to combat illegal mining.

During an open forum, some chiefs raised concerns about land issues, mining regulations, and other challenges affecting their respective areas.

They appealed to the minister to ensure that the work of the Operation Recover All Loot committee extends to land issues in the region and expressed their readiness to support his efforts, stating that his success would be a significant victory for the Western Region.

The minister thanked the chiefs and promised to address their concerns while ensuring periodic engagement on matters related to his ministry and government policies.