Dormaahene Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II believes there has been a decline in illegal mining (galamsey) since the onset of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.

The Dormaahene delivered the assessment just moments after his swearing-in as a Justice of the Court of Appeal today, October 2.

He is of the view that the tide is finally turning against galamsey under the current administration.

However, the revered traditional ruler and newly appointed Court of Appeal judge issued a stern warning, cautioning that the practice remains an existential menace that requires absolute eradication.

Osagyefo Agyeman Badu II, speaking to journalists in Accra following a ceremony where he and 20 others took the judicial oath, provided his analysis of the fight against the destructive practice.

Progress Credited to New Enforcement Measures

The Dormaahene, who has served on his stool for over a quarter-century, stressed that the fight is far from over but quantifiable progress has been made.

“I have been on this stool for almost 26 and a half years. Galamsey — the illegal mining — did not start yesterday; it’s been with us for some time. If you ask me about my assessment, I will say now it is going down,” Osagyefo Agyeman Badu II affirmed.

He attributed the noticeable decline directly to the government's enhanced and visible enforcement strategy.

The Justice of the Court of Appeal pointed to the introduction of dedicated enforcement units and proactive measures that were previously absent from the policy landscape.

“You know why I am saying that? If you look at some of the steps that have been taken — before we were not hearing about the Blue Waterguards and all that…,” he stated, referencing the special task forces dedicated to protecting Ghana’s severely polluted water bodies.

The new justice provided a startling historical fact to illustrate the extent of the previous crisis versus the current containment efforts.

“Before this regime came, I know for a fact, because of the work that I do, nine forest reserves had been taken over. Now that the situation has been curbed.”

This single figure highlights that nearly a dozen designated biodiversity zones were effectively lost to illegal mining before recent interventions stabilised the environmental security situation.

Zero Tolerance and Judicial Warning

Despite acknowledging the decline, the Dormaahene vehemently rejected any notion of complacency.

He emphasised that galamsey is merely retreating, not defeated.

“I wouldn’t stand here and say galamsey is gone; it is still with us but I believe that if you look at the seriousness… we should ensure that we nip this situation in the bud,” he cautioned, calling for sustained action from the government, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and the public.

His remarks carry particular weight now that he holds a position in the nation’s judiciary, underscoring the legal seriousness of the offence. On the local level, he promised zero tolerance for illegal mining in the Dormaa Traditional Area, declaring he would personally ensure offenders face justice.

He warned that any illegal miners in his jurisdiction would be apprehended.

"I would personally arrest offenders and hand them over to the police for prosecution."

This serves as a potent deterrent, linking traditional authority directly with state law enforcement to protect natural resources.

Protecting Natural Resources and Livelihoods

Osagyefo Agyeman Badu II concluded with an appeal to the Ghanaian populace to assume their civic responsibility in resource protection, linking the anti-galamsey fight directly to national prosperity and heritage.

He emphasised the ancestral legacy at stake.

“This is the only thing our ancestors left for us so we don’t have to destroy our water bodies and cocoa farms and ensure that we do farming in the right way so we can all be happy.”

The illegal mining crisis has had devastating documented effects, including the destruction of thousands of acres of farmland and the pollution of major rivers, threatening the livelihoods of millions of Ghanaians dependent on agriculture and clean water.

The chief's new role on the bench is expected to bring a renewed focus and urgency to environmental governance and resource protection cases in the Court of Appeal.