The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, , has announced government plans to actively involve local authorities in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey).
This comes in the wake of approximately 16% of Ghana's land reserves already being lost to the practice.
Speaking at an orientation session for Municipal, Metropolitan, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the minister emphasised that the government intends to decentralise efforts to combat the widespread degradation caused by illegal mining. "Chiefs and MMDCEs will play a crucial role in fighting galamsey," the minister stressed, noting that traditional leaders and local government officials will now assume direct oversight responsibility for monitoring mining activities within their jurisdictions. "The decentralised system will drive a bottom-up approach to allow your involvement in the issuance of mining licenses," he added.
The new policy direction forms part of broader stakeholder initiatives aimed at curbing galamsey and restoring Ghana's polluted water bodies and degraded lands.
