Ghana’s Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has disclosed that 1,400 illegal gold miners have been arrested across the country in the last eight months.
According to him, the arrests were made as Ghana intensified its fight against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey.
He made this known on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, while speaking on state-owned television channel, GTV.
The Lands Minister contrasted the 1,400 figure with the 800 arrests recorded over nearly three years under the previous administration, arguing that the current strategy is delivering measurable results.
According to him, “We have seized 440 excavators and more than 800 changfans. We have mobilised Blue Water Guards in key regions, and they are making a difference.”
The minister said that enforcement alone is not enough, stressing that the government is also creating sustainable options for miners who wish to operate legally.
He said “We are also now providing critical alternatives, and we are saying that if you want to do mining, we are going to give you the training and build your capacity to work with large-scale mining companies.”
He added that government’s commitment to pursuing a balanced approach that protects the environment while opening up regulated opportunities in the mining sector.
Source:Africa Piblicity
