The leader of the United Party (UP), Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, has proposed a one-year nationwide ban on all small-scale mining activities, stating it is the only practical way to end illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Speaking in an interview on TV3’s New Day on Friday, October 17, Mr. Kyerematen said that while there is clear political will to tackle illegal mining, government efforts have lacked a comprehensive, resource-oriented strategy.

“It is clear that there is political will to get things done, but unfortunately, they have not been able to articulate a comprehensive and resource-oriented strategy and policy framework,” he said. “The things being done now are not entirely consistent. The government has to come to terms with how they can decisively deal with it.”

Mr Kyerematen explained that the complex nature of galamsey makes it nearly impossible to distinguish between legal and illegal small-scale mining operations

To address this, he said the government should impose a one-year temporary ban on all forms of small-scale and community mining.

“The nature and character of galamsey make it difficult to distinguish between legal and illegal operations. When you impose a total ban and enforce it for one year, the issue of legality does not arise,” he argued. “During that period, all licenses should be suspended and audited. Those found to have used their licenses properly can be reinstated after the ban.”

Mr. Kyerematen added that the proposed ban would allow the government to restore polluted water bodies and rehabilitate affected mining areas within the one-year moratorium.

“This is not just about imposing a ban for its own sake. Within that year, we must restore our rivers and water bodies and ensure that proper mining practices are established before resumption,” he stressed.

While acknowledging the government’s commitment to addressing the menace, Mr. Kyerematen said the measures being implemented were not far-reaching enough to produce sustainable results.

“The government has the will to try and get something done, but it is not going far enough,” he said. “This matter is so serious that the government must act decisively and not simply wait for policies to work over time.”

The former Trade and Industry Minister revealed that his proposed 10-point plan under the Ghana Transformation Programme (GTP) outlines a clear strategy to combat galamsey. He urged the government to adopt some of the ideas in his framework, which he described as practical and results-driven.

“I’ve spoken about this and put it out in the media. My 10-point plan under the GTP clearly outlines what must be done to stop galamsey,” he said.

On the 24-hour economy, Mr. Kyerematen described the government’s proposal as a sound idea but criticised its implementation. He said it should have been built on the foundation of the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative launched under the previous NPP administration.

“The principle behind the 24-hour economy is sound, but implementation is everything. The government should have continued from the 1D1F initiative, which had about 300 companies benefiting. Those firms could have been the first candidates for the 24-hour economy,” he explained.

Mr. Kyerematen also lauded the government for maintaining some fiscal and monetary consistency but called for stronger efforts in industrialisation and revenue mobilisation.

“You can see policy consistency between the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana, and that is commendable. But we must sustain it and focus more on industrial development, which is where the jobs will come from,” he added.