The CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Sulemanu Koney, has called for stringent measures to tackle the issue of illegal mining aka galamsey in Ghana.

In an interview on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition, he stated the need for effective regulation, lamenting the current lack of oversight in the small-scale mining sector.

Mr Koney criticized the blanket bans and moratoriums on mining activities, which he believes have not addressed the core problem.

“We’ve done this before. We had a moratorium, we had a ban, and it didn’t address the problem,” Koney stated, advocating for a more nuanced approach.

“We need effective regulation. Know where you are, what you are doing, and how much you are producing. That’s real regulation.”

He explained that while large-scale mining is heavily regulated, small-scale mining lacks the same rigour, which has contributed to the rise of illegal activities.

“I work with large-scale mining firms - one of the most regulated industries in the world. In Ghana, I can count the number of regulators overseeing large-scale mining,” Koney said.

He stressed the need for similar attention in the small-scale mining sector to curb illegal activities.

Mr Koney argued that simply banning mining is not the solution, as it often leads to more unregulated and dangerous practices.

He believes that a systematic overhaul of the sector, including proper training, supervision, and regulation, would yield better results.

For Koney, the involvement of armed illegal miners is a “ticking time bomb” and poses a significant threat to the country’s security.

“We need to be tough. We need boots on the ground to deal with the issue,” he said, pointing out the growing concerns over foreigners engaging in illegal mining activities.

“Most of these illegal miners are not Ghanaians… and they are getting access to explosives and money. It’s a major issue.”