Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has rejected calls for a blanket ban on small-scale mining, arguing that such a move would be a misplaced priority and that the focus should be on recalcitrants destroying our water bodies, not a ban.
His comments follow recent appeals from organizations like the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and other professional bodies, as well as Organised Labour, urging President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to impose an immediate ban on small-scale mining to combat the environmental devastation caused by illegal operations, particularly to Ghana’s water bodies.
In recent years, illegal small-scale mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, has severely impacted Ghana’s water bodies, forests, and ecosystems, reaching what some describe as a crisis level. The River Pra, one of the most affected water bodies, has seen heavy pollution, leading to significant challenges for water treatment plants. The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has even had to shut down certain plants due to the excessive pollution, which is making water purification costly and unsustainable.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) recently warned that if galamsey is not tackled immediately, water tariffs may increase, as water treatment plants face mounting operational costs due to the need for stronger, more expensive chemicals to treat polluted water. Furthermore, leaders such as the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, have publicly condemned the destruction caused by galamsey, calling for more decisive action to preserve natural resources for future generations.
Organized Labour and other professional bodies have also joined the fight, demanding a state of emergency to halt illegal mining near water bodies, threatening strikes if the government fails to act. Despite numerous efforts by the government, including military interventions, the problem persists due to a combination of corruption, political interference, and economic incentives driving illegal mining.
Duker, while acknowledging the severe environmental degradation caused by illegal miners, emphasized that the solution lies in targeting recalcitrants responsible for the destruction rather than banning the entire small-scale mining industry.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Meretweso Community Mining Scheme in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality, he expressed support for the government’s commitment to ending illegal mining but insisted that a blanket ban is not the answer.
“Personally, I am against the call for a ban on mining generally. You can’t ban mining. Why must you ban mining?” Duker questioned, asserting that responsible mining practices should be encouraged rather than curbing the entire industry, which provides livelihoods for many.
Duker criticized those advocating for the ban, stating that they had not properly addressed the underlying issues or proposed effective alternatives. He referenced comments made by former President John Dramani Mahama, who had previously called for a ban on small-scale mining.
Duker expressed disappointment that these calls for action had not been accompanied by adequate analysis or reflection on the long-term consequences. “It is misdirected because I was expecting them to have condemned the statement made by his excellency the former President Mahama before even calling for this action,” he remarked.
Further expanding on his point, Duker noted that addressing illegal mining requires a collective and thoughtful approach, including better enforcement and targeted action against those who are directly responsible for environmental harm. “Yes, people are destroying our water bodies; there are measures we need to take to clamp down on recalcitrants who are destroying our water bodies, and I agree with them perfectly,” he said. However, he stressed that indiscriminately banning mining would not solve the issue and might do more harm than good.
As part of the government’s efforts to protect Ghana’s natural resources, Duker revealed plans to deploy river guards to safeguard water bodies from further damage.
