Ghana fight against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, has escalated dramatically in 2025, with 1,345 arrests made since January, according to Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series press briefing at Jubilee House in Accra on Wednesday, Buah revealed that 425 excavators and other heavy machinery had also been seized as part of the intensified campaign. His remarks were reported by the Ghana News Agency.
The government says these actions reflect its unwavering commitment to protecting the country’s natural resources from the devastation caused by unauthorised mining.
Environmental emergency driving policy shift
‘Illegal mining continues to destroy our rivers, forests, and farmland. It is an environmental emergency,’ said Buah. ‘We are determined to stamp it out.’
The Mahama-led administration has made anti-galamsey operations a central pillar of its environmental and governance agenda. Civil society and environmental groups have for years warned of the irreversible damage caused by illegal small-scale mining, including mercury pollution, deforestation, and displacement of communities.
New controls on heavy machinery imports
In a bid to cut off illegal miners’ access to equipment, the government has launched a nationwide system to monitor imports of earth-moving machines.
‘We are now tracking all excavators and similar machinery from the point they enter the country,’ Buah explained.
This initiative, developed in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division), and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, is already making an impact.
‘As we speak, 1,200 excavators have been impounded at Tema Port. They are undergoing validation before any clearance is allowed,’ the minister confirmed.
Transparency through accountability
Buah’s update came during the Government Accountability Series, a platform launched by the President’s Communications Bureau to provide public transparency on national programmes and reforms.
According to the Bureau, the initiative helps build public trust by regularly updating Ghanaians on key government interventions. This session focused squarely on the galamsey crisis and what the administration is doing to solve it.
‘It’s not just about arrests,’ Buah emphasised. ‘It’s about fixing the system that allows illegal mining to thrive — whether that’s weak oversight, porous borders, or unregulated machinery.’
Coordinated enforcement and public support key
The government’s crackdown is being supported by joint task forces involving the military, police, and regulatory agencies. Recent months have also seen increased community engagement campaigns to encourage citizens to report illegal mining activities.
This holistic strategy, authorities say, is already beginning to curb environmental degradation and reclaim affected areas.
‘This is not a short-term campaign,’ said Buah. ‘We are in this for the long haul — to protect Ghana’s environment for future generations.’
