Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has issued a firm directive to all mining companies operating in Ghana, requiring them to immediately strengthen the security of their concessions to combat the persistent threat of illegal mining, commonly referred to as “galamsey.”
This mandate, formalized in a public notice issued, places the onus on licensed operators to safeguard the environmental integrity of their permitted areas or face severe regulatory consequences, including the suspension or revocation of their environmental permits.
“The Authority has observed with concern the increasing incidence of illegal mining (galamsey) activities occurring within legally acquired concessions. These activities continue to cause significant environmental harm, including pollution of water bodies, land degradation, and destruction of forest reserves.”
Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
This directive is a response to the Authority’s growing concern over the encroachment of illegal mining activities into legally acquired concessions, which the EPA identifies as a major driver of environmental degradation across the nation.
By requiring firms to establish and maintain robust monitoring and surveillance systems, the EPA is compelling operators to move beyond mere compliance with paperwork and adopt active, ground-level environmental stewardship.
The authority emphasized that these illegal operations are responsible for critical damage, including the widespread pollution of essential water bodies, the systematic destruction of protected forest reserves, and permanent land degradation, which collectively undermine national sustainability goals and the viability of the lawful mining sector.
Strengthening Accountability and Operational Oversight
Under the new directives, mining companies are now legally required to promptly report any unauthorized or illegal activities within their concession areas to the relevant state institutions.
This shift is designed to eliminate the culture of silence that often surrounds illegal operations and ensures that the state can mount rapid responses in collaboration with security agencies. According to the EPA, “failure to protect concession areas or to prevent illegal mining activities constitutes a breach of environmental permit conditions.”
This explicit warning serves as a notice that the EPA is prepared to invoke its mandate under the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124) to enforce strict compliance.
By holding mining firms directly accountable for the status of their land, the regulator is creating a strong financial and legal incentive for companies to actively police their own borders.
Nationwide Compliance Monitoring Exercise
To ensure these directives are not merely symbolic, the EPA has announced the commencement of a nationwide compliance monitoring exercise, slated to begin on May 10, 2026.
This initiative will involve on-the-ground assessments to verify that all mining companies are adhering to the specific conditions attached to their environmental permits, including the implementation of approved Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Environmental Management Plans (EMPs).
This exercise represents a significant tightening of the regulatory net, as the EPA intends to move from oversight to active enforcement.
Companies are being strongly advised to take immediate steps to ensure full compliance prior to the start of this exercise, as the Authority has made it clear that they will “undertake enforcement actions in collaboration with relevant state and security agencies.”
Curbing Illegal Mining Through Responsible Stewardship
The success of this directive hinges on the transition from passive concession holding to proactive, responsible mining. By mandating that companies take responsibility for their entire operational area, the EPA is effectively decentralizing the fight against illegal mining, turning every licensed concession into a monitored zone.
This approach not only provides the state with a more granular view of illegal activities but also forces companies to integrate environmental protection into their core operational strategy.
If enforced consistently, this policy could significantly reduce the viability of galamsey, as the increased surveillance and the threat of severe sanctions will make illegal encroachment more difficult and costly for unauthorized miners.
Ultimately, by enforcing these standards, the EPA aims to restore the ecological health of affected regions and ensure that the mining sector contributes to, rather than destroys, Ghana’s environmental future.
READ ALSO: Pope Leo XIV Concludes Africa Tour, Returns to Rome
