The government’s resolve to clamp down on illegal mining, popularly referred to as galamsey, has received a significant boost with a major support package from the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
At a brief but symbolic ceremony held at its Accra head office on Monday, September 15, 2025, GoldBod presented GHS 5 million and five brand new Toyota Hilux pickups to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
The donation was made by the Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi Esq., who reaffirmed the institution’s strong commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices.
He explained that GoldBod’s interventions were not merely symbolic gestures but practical contributions toward restoring ecological balance in mining communities and ensuring the country derives value from its mineral wealth without destroying its environment.
“Our mission is clear: the Ghana Gold Board wants to buy more gold to generate foreign exchange for the nation. But the gold we buy must be mined and sourced responsibly, in a way that creates value without undermining the sanctity of our environment.
“Our collective survival as a people depends on the success of the fight against illegal mining, and so we cannot afford to fail.”
Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi Esq.
He further stressed that GoldBod’s commitment goes beyond monetary contributions. While supporting individuals who wish to pursue legal and responsible mining, he underscored that the organization stands firmly behind NAIMOS in its efforts to deal decisively with those who remain adamant in pursuing illegal and destructive mining practices.
According to him, safeguarding the country’s natural resources is not just a moral obligation but an existential necessity.
New Initiatives to Strengthen Mining Sector
Mr. Gyamfi also used the occasion to announce a series of new initiatives by GoldBod to strengthen the mining sector. Key among them is the introduction of mechanisms to guarantee value-chain traceability in Ghana’s gold trade, ensuring that the source of gold can be authenticated from mine to market.
This, he explained, would enhance transparency and accountability, while also positioning Ghana as a leader in ethical gold trading.
In addition, GoldBod is set to support the reclamation of about 1,000 hectares of forest reserves devastated by years of illegal mining. He assured that this intervention, coupled with the cooperative mining program launched by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, would go a long way in restoring degraded lands and promoting structured small-scale mining in the country.
“GoldBod is determined to work with the government and all stakeholders to make sure mining becomes a blessing and not a curse for our people. We believe reclamation of destroyed lands and the formalization of small-scale mining are critical steps in this process”.
Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi Esq.
Lands Minister’s Appreciation
On behalf of the government, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, received the donation with gratitude. He praised GoldBod for its timely intervention, describing the gesture as “a major boost” to the state’s fight against galamsey at this crucial time.
The minister assured Ghanaians that the government remains unrelenting in its determination to rid the country of illegal mining and its attendant consequences.
“The government of Ghana will not relent. We will sustain this fight until every devastated forest is turned green again, and every polluted water body is turned blue. This is a fight for survival, for the dignity of our nation, and for the generations yet unborn.”
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah
The minister acknowledged that while the battle against galamsey has often appeared daunting, the growing support from institutions such as GoldBod is proof that collective national action is possible.
He called on other corporate bodies, civil society organizations, and well-meaning Ghanaians to follow GoldBod’s example and contribute meaningfully to safeguarding the environment.
The menace of galamsey has long been one of Ghana’s most pressing socio-environmental challenges. From destroyed farmlands to poisoned rivers and scarred forest reserves, the scale of destruction has prompted successive governments to commit resources to combat the practice.
Despite enforcement operations and community sensitization campaigns, illegal mining has proven resilient, feeding off high unemployment, poverty, and weak enforcement in some areas.
The GoldBod’s latest donation is both symbolic and practical in signaling the private sector’s willingness to take ownership of the fight.
With five Toyota Hilux pickups earmarked for anti-galamsey operations and the GHS 5 million expected to bolster logistical and operational needs, NAIMOS is poised to scale up its interventions in mining hotspots across the country. As Sammy Gyamfi put it, Ghana cannot afford to lose this war. The stakes, quite literally, are national survival.
