The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who also serves as Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, has declared that President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to the fight against illegal mining—popularly known as galamsey—will not be compromised under any circumstances.
He stressed that the current administration is showing the strongest political will yet to confront the menace that has ravaged Ghana’s environment and water bodies for years.
Speaking in an interview on ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining, Hon. Armah Kofi-Buah said President Mahama has made it clear that the country’s survival depends on ending the galamsey crisis.
“This canker that is eating us up as a country is being fueled by people who have money, people who are well-connected, including politicians. But I am telling you, it is criminal. And that is what the President keeps telling me — go and do the work and don’t be afraid of anybody.”
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
The Minister emphasized that the Mahama administration’s renewed fight against galamsey is guided by firm political will and transparency. He noted that the President’s instruction to “do the work without fear or favor” is being implemented across all levels of the anti-galamsey task force.
“The stakes for the country’s survival will not be compromised by anybody firmly. That is the political will that is driving this effort. We are committed to it across every barrier, and that gives us the confidence to act decisively.”
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
Addressing questions about potential sabotage or internal resistance, Hon. Buah admitted that while allegations of wrongdoing have surfaced against some ruling party officials, investigations are ongoing to establish the facts.
“There have been allegations made, but I’m very happy that we are swift in undertaking investigations. When allegations are made, we must take our time to investigate them thoroughly. That’s why, for instance, when allegations were made against Wontumi and Akonta Mining, it took almost five months to conduct investigations.”
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
According to him, every allegation, regardless of who is involved, will be subjected to scrutiny. “It doesn’t matter who you are,” he maintained. “Whenever allegations are made, we report and ensure that they are investigated. That is how we build confidence and trust in the system.”
Cases under Investigations
Hon. Armah Kofi-Buah also provided an update on the case involving the Member of Parliament for Aowin, who was accused of engaging in illegal mining. He explained that the matter remains under investigation, adding that it is crucial to allow each institution to perform its role.
“Where I sit, we do our job and allow others to do theirs. The Ministry of Interior, the Attorney General, and the Judiciary all have significant roles to play in this fight”.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
The Minister disclosed that the Attorney General has presented a new Tribunal Bill to Cabinet, which is now heading to Parliament. This bill, he said, will empower the Attorney General and the Chief Justice to establish special tribunals to prosecute illegal mining cases expeditiously.
“We don’t want these cases to be mixed up in the long chain of court processes. We must be swift and clear in punishing offenders. We don’t want to repeat the record of the past eight years, where only 4 percent of offenders were prosecuted. We want to change that.”
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
Strong Inter-Ministerial Collaboration,
Highlighting inter-ministerial collaboration, Hon Armah Kofi-Buah revealed that his ministry is working closely with other key sectors to close loopholes exploited by illegal miners.
He mentioned that the Ministry of Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) are collaborating on an excavator-tracking system to monitor heavy equipment used in illegal mining operations.
In addition, he noted that the Ministry is partnering with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to track fuel purchases that often support illegal mining activities.
“There are people who send empty drums to fuel stations to buy fuel, and we’ve identified that this fuel ends up at galamsey sites. So the NPA is rolling out a programme that requires verification of licensing and documentation before bulk fuel purchases are approved. This way, we can trace the chain all the way to the financiers.”
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
He further disclosed that the Ministry of Trade and Industry is also working to regulate the sale of certain illegal mining equipment, while the Ghana Water Resources Commission is partnering with the Lands Ministry to tackle water pollution caused by galamsey operations. “If we are genuinely committed to this fight, we cannot isolate it as the Ministry of Lands’ fight. It is a collective responsibility,” Hon. Armah Kofi-Buah stressed.
Due Process not Slow Investigation
Responding to criticisms about the slow pace of investigations into alleged corruption among political figures, Hon. Armah Kofi-Buah appealed for patience, emphasizing that due process is vital. Quoting the late President John Evans Atta Mills, he said, “The wheels of justice move slowly, but they get to their destination.” He added,
“When people are accused, we must be methodical in finding the truth so that innocent people are not wrongly accused. The Attorney General and EOCO are on top of these matters, and I have confidence in their professionalism.”
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
He rejected claims that investigations involving members of the ruling NDC are being treated with leniency.
“This is the difference. When did it ever happen that in the first year of any government, it was the ruling party itself that brought these allegations forward? The NDC announced it because we are serious about keeping our word to the people of Ghana.”
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
Hon. Armah Kofi-Buah reaffirmed that President Mahama’s government is anchored on accountability and public trust. “The people of Ghana have given us a mandate, and we don’t take that for granted,” he concluded.
“Our trust with Ghanaians is to be honest and deliver on our promises. That is why the President insists that this fight cannot be compromised. We are determined to end galamsey once and for all.”
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
The Lands and Natural Resources Minister’s strong remarks reflect a renewed and uncompromising stance from the Mahama administration in its bid to end the galamsey menace once and for all.
With clear political will from the presidency, coordinated institutional action, and a commitment to transparency, Ghana appears set on a path that prioritizes the rule of law over political convenience.
