The Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens and member of the Anti-Galamsey Coalition, Madam Awula Serwah, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to publicly clarify the government’s position on illegal mining following controversial comments by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi.
She also proposed a review of Foreign Affairs Minister, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s 15-point plan for tackling illegal mining, a proposal he presented publicly to the government of President Nana Akufo-Addo in October 2024.
“The president should come out and say that we’re not in any way condoning illegal mining. He should come out and let Ghanaians know that they are not encouraging lawlessness.”
Madam Awula serwah
Madam Serwah insisted that the controversy requires a clear response from the government because the comments could be interpreted as permission to mine outside the law. She stressed that a mining licence is a “legal requirement, not an administrative inconvenience” that prospective operators can disregard.
The environmental advocate expressed concern that the remarks could embolden illegal miners to encroach on farmlands and other areas that are not formally designated as forest reserves or water bodies. In her view, the absence of these classifications does not automatically make land available for mining.
She also questioned the suggestion that the remarks should be judged differently because a longer version of the recording might contain comments about formalising mining activities. Although she acknowledged that the controversy could be exploited for political gain, she insisted that the central concern should be focused on the implications of the statement.
Madam Serwah further called attention to the need to protect farming communities, warning that more than 2.5 million peasant farmers face the risk of losing their livelihoods because of irresponsible mining. She cited concerns among farmers in Atronsu and Jema, where communities have resisted illegal mining and fear losing control of their lands.
Turning to the proposal by Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Foreign Affairs Minister, she encouraged the government to study his 15-point plan. However, she questioned whether the minister has formally placed the proposal before President Mahama for consideration.
Madam Serwah’s intervention therefore centres on two demands: a public clarification from the President and serious consideration of measures proposed to combat illegal mining. She also called for compensation where farms have been wrongly taken over, arguing that protecting livelihoods must remain central to the national response.
Licences Do not Guarantee Responsible Mining
Meanwhile, environmental advocate and Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Madam Awula Serwah cautioned that issuing mining licences without effective monitoring and enforcement will do little to halt illegal mining and environmental destruction in Ghana.
She stressed that even licensed operators could violate the conditions governing their activities. She therefore called for stricter regulatory compliance, a temporary pause in issuing licences and stronger oversight of mining concessions.
“You cannot keep on issuing licenses like confetti if you cannot be in a position to monitor. And even when you have a mining license, you need a permit from the EPA; you also need documentation from Ghana Water before you can just start mining.”
Awula Serwah
Madam Serwah warned that Ghana is approaching an ecological catastrophe, with polluted water bodies, diminishing forest cover and threatened agricultural livelihoods demonstrating the scale of the problem. She lamented that there is “an inadequate public response to the environmental crisis” likening the situation to a house on fire while its occupants refuse to summon the fire service.
According to her, the national conversation must move beyond whether mining can provide livelihoods and confront the consequences for farmers and communities whose land and economic security are being threatened. She cautioned that mining cannot be treated as the only viable source of income when agriculture also sustains millions of people.
Furthermore, Madam Serwah disputed the assumption that possession of a licence necessarily translates into responsible mining. Drawing a comparison with road traffic regulations, she observed that holding a driving licence does not guarantee compliance with traffic laws. Similarly, mining operators can possess authorisation and still exceed the boundaries or conditions under which they are permitted to operate.
She also explained that mining requirements extend beyond determining whether a site falls within a water body or a forest reserve. Buffer zones and other regulatory restrictions must be respected, while relevant environmental and water authorities may also need to grant permits before operations begin.
Turning to enforcement, Madam Serwah criticised Ghana’s persistent reluctance to ensure compliance with existing laws. She expressed reservations about community mining and responsible mining initiatives where monitoring systems are inadequate, warning that such programmes cannot achieve their intended objectives without sufficient resources and consistent supervision.
The environmental campaigner emphasised the importance of a serious examination of Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s 15-point plan, which she believes contains proposals worth considering. In particular, she highlighted the recommendation for a temporary halt to the issuance of mining licences while the government strengthens its systems and prepares to enforce existing regulations effectively.
In addition, she pointed to the proposal for a government body to oversee mining concessions and ensure compliance. Such an arrangement merits consideration as part of a more coordinated response to irresponsible mining.
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