Accra, Ghana – President John Dramani Mahama has announced a comprehensive government initiative aimed at curbing illegal mining, locally known as “galamsey,” and fostering sustainable practices within Ghana’s mining sector. The new measures include a stringent permit regime for excavator imports and an enhanced nationwide tracking system for heavy-duty mining equipment.
The President made this declaration while opening the “Mining in Motion Summit 2025” in Accra, a summit themed “Sustainable Mining and Local Growth – Leveraging Resources for Global Impact.” President Mahama explicitly stated that the government would no longer tolerate the indiscriminate environmental degradation, water pollution, and displacement of communities caused by illegal mining.
The government’s strategy is multifaceted, focusing on bolstering the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks across the mining sector. This involves prohibiting toxic chemicals like mercury in gold processing, enforcing mandatory site rehabilitation in small and medium-scale mining licenses, reinforcing community development agreements, and promoting renewable energy in mining operations.
President Mahama underscored the government’s commitment to ensuring all mining activities in Ghana leave a positive environmental footprint, stating that “every ounce of gold or gram of lithium mined in Ghana will leave a positive green footprint.” He also highlighted Ghana’s readiness to play a central role in the global clean energy transition, given the surging demand for critical minerals, and revealed plans for a legal and investment policy framework to attract ethical investors and promote local content in the responsible development of critical mineral reserves.
Sankofaonline
