The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has called for greater authority to be given to traditional leaders, arguing that it would help curb illegal mining (galamsey) and drive local development.
Speaking on State of Affairs with Joshua Kodjo Mensah on April 1, 2025, the minister said that chiefs are powerless to act against illegal miners in their jurisdictions.
According to Ibrahim, illegal miners often bypass traditional rulers by obtaining permits directly from government agencies, leaving chiefs unable to intervene even when mining activities threaten their communities. "Can you imagine if chiefs were given the power to summon people mining illegally in their jurisdictions?" he asked. "Right now, a miner gets a letter from the minister of lands, enters the chief's area, and starts digging.
The chief calls him, and he refuses to come.
