George Mireku Duker, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has strongly opposed recent calls for a total ban on all small-scale mining activities in Ghana. He described such proposals as “misdirected” and insisted that a blanket ban would not solve the challenges posed by illegal mining, or “galamsey,” which has wreaked havoc on the country’s environment.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Meretweso Community Mining Scheme in the Central Region, Mr. Duker acknowledged the environmental damage caused by illegal mining operations, particularly the contamination of water bodies. However, he stressed that banning all small-scale mining activities was not the solution.
“Yes, people are destroying our water bodies, and we must take stringent measures to clamp down on the recalcitrants doing this damage,” Mr. Duker stated. “But I am personally against the call for a ban on mining in general. You can’t ban mining. Why must you ban it?”
The Deputy Minister’s comments were in response to demands from various professional bodies and environmental groups urging President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to implement an immediate ban on small-scale mining. These groups cited the severe environmental destruction, particularly to rivers and forest lands, caused by illegal mining operations.
However, Mr. Duker argued that such a ban would punish legitimate small-scale miners and fail to address the root cause of the problem. “I was expecting them to have condemned the statement made by former President Mahama before even calling for this action. You can’t just, out of the blue, say ‘put a ban’. Ban on what?” he questioned.
Instead of a blanket ban, Mr. Duker proposed targeted measures to combat illegal mining while preserving the livelihoods of legitimate miners. He suggested training residents living along riverbanks as river guards to protect water bodies from further contamination.
The issue of illegal mining, commonly referred to as ‘galamsey’ has been a longstanding challenge in Ghana, with various governments grappling with its environmental and social impacts. Calls for an outright ban have gained traction in recent months, especially after high-profile figures like former President John Dramani Mahama joined the chorus of voices advocating for tougher measures.
Despite these calls, Mr. Duker maintained that small-scale mining plays an important role in Ghana’s economy and should not be entirely eradicated. Instead, he emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of existing regulations and a more sustainable approach to managing the sector.
