The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has assured Ghanaians that Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and other public officials found culpable in illegal mining activities, popularly known as “galamsey,” will face prosecution.

Speaking on JoyNews’ News Desk programme on February 17, the ministry's Media Relations Officer, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, said the investigation into the matter is “a very rigorous one.”

“The last time we spoke, I indicated that the process that has been kick-started to bring clarity to the matter is a very rigorous one, because if you saw the explanation from the assembly of the view that the payments predate even their coming into office, it's something that has been there for a very long time,” he said.

Mr Schandorf explained that the probe was complicated by the fact that reporters, posing as illegal miners, made the payments under investigation.

He clarified that while some officials defended the payments as longstanding, the investigation showed that those making the payments were posing as illegal miners.

He added that the ministry is determined to bring closure to the matter soon.

"Hopefully, by the close of the week, or maybe even next week, I'm very confident that we'll have closure on that matter. But let me emphasise what the Deputy Minister said. He indicated that anybody who is found culpable will surely be dealt with. That's an assurance that we can certainly give to the Ghanaian,” Mr Schandorf said.

Addressing political complicity in illegal mining, he acknowledged that some local officials have acted as enablers rather than regulators.

“There is no need to hide or be hideous about this. We know, as a matter of fact, that at the local level, there is entrenched local political complicity. That is to say that those who ordinarily are supposed to be the vanguards at the local level have now become the enablers. It is not news to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. Indeed, the government is aware.

But there are structures to fish and weed all of them out. We are ruling them out. And that is why we appreciate this particular exposé. Of course, we are not saying that those involved are guilty. But at least it sheds light on some of the issues happening. And there's a strategy to deal with all of that,” he said.

Mr Schandorf stressed that political interference in illegal mining is a longstanding problem.

“For political complicity, it has always been there. Even prior to this administration, we have always known that illegal mining is prominent because of the political actors. It's something that has been there for a very long time. It's not even a new development, so to speak. We've always known it. But we are determined to deal with it,” he concluded.