Minister nominee for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has vowed to tackle illegal mining with a renewed and collaborative approach.

Speaking during his vetting in Parliament on Monday, 27th January, Mr Buah described illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey,” as a significant crisis threatening Ghana’s forests and rivers.

“We face a serious crisis with the destruction of our forests and the pollution of our rivers. Illegal mining must be combated,” he stated. “We, in opposition, have been very strong on this issue.

As minister, we will stand together with the people of Ghana to fight illegal mining. It doesn’t matter your political affiliation. If you want to mine, there are legal processes to acquire licences.”

Mr Buah acknowledged past failures in addressing illegal mining and stressed the need for a new approach. “One of the interventions we will focus on is engaging communities differently.

We will ensure that the people in mining areas understand that the destiny of their forests and rivers is in their hands. They are the leaders of these areas, and we will empower and respect them while working closely with them to provide support,” he added.

As part of his strategy, he outlined plans to formalise community mining by organising miners into cooperatives and creating designated mining enclaves.

“We will work with the Minerals Commission and the Geological Survey Authority to identify mineralised areas where mining can be properly regulated,” he explained.

Mr Buah also pledged to decentralise the licensing regime to make it easier for communities to access legal mining permits.

“We want to empower communities by simplifying the licensing process. At the same time, we will deal ruthlessly with individuals and groups engaging in illegal mining because we would have provided a clear pathway for them to do the right thing,” he said.