He said the arrest of these categories of persons will go a long way to help in the fight against the menace.
“So far we are yet to see the arrest of the kingpins who are financing Galamsey activities. We need a roadmap from the agencies on how best we are fighting the menace. The problem of fighting Galamsey is bigger than the economic mess this country is facing,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, September 27.
Earlier, another Civil society activist, Dr Steve Manteaw, also told the Mahama administration to arrest the financiers and the politically exposed persons behind the illegal small-scale mining menace.
Dr Manteaw makes the point that if these categories of persons are not arrested, the fight against galmasey will not succeed.
He said this after making a call to the Attorney-General to provide an update on the investigations into the alleged activities of Ashanti Regional Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Yamin and the 3rd National Vice Chairman of the NDC Yakubu Abanga, relative to illegal small-scale mining.
It is recalled that the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, directed the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining activities across the country.
In a letter dated Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Dr Ayine instructed EOCO to act on intelligence and public concerns regarding unauthorised mining operations.
In the letter dated July 15, Dr Ayine wrote “I write to direct your esteemed office to initiate investigations into suspected illegal mining
activities being perpetrated by certain individuals within mining districts in the country. This directive is borne out of growing public concern, corroborated by media reports and intelligence, regarding the involvement of some citizens in unauthorised mining operations (generally called galamsey) that are in blatant contravention of the provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995.”
“As Your Office is aware, H.E. the President has consistently reiterated his government’s firm commitment to eradicating illegal mining and restoring sanity to the natural resource governance regime in Ghana.
In line with this national stance, and pursuant to your mandate under the EOCO Act, 2010 (Act 804), I am directing your Office to invite the following persons named in recent credible reports for interrogation namely, Mr. Yakubu Abanga and Mr. Joseph Yamin,” the Attorney-General stated.
The two people both denied the claims against them.
But in a Facebook post, Dr Manteaw said, “Wondering what happened to this investigation. Just when I thought we were beginning to make a headway in the fight against galamsey, then bam, everything goes quiet.
“Until we tackle the financiers of galamsey, and the politically connected persons behind it, the fight will not be any different from that of the previous government.”
Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has revealed that the government’s intensified crackdown on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has led to 1,400 arrests in just eight months.
Speaking on GTV on Wednesday, September 24, Mr. Buah contrasted the figure with the 800 arrests recorded over nearly three years under the previous administration, arguing that the current strategy is delivering measurable results.
“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,” Mr. Buah stated.
The minister noted that enforcement alone is not enough, stressing that the government is also creating sustainable options for miners who wish to operate legally.
“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 explained.
Reacting to this revelation by the Minister, Miracles Aboagye stated that this is a clear example that galaseny is taking place.
“Felix Kwakye Ofosu [Minister of Government Communications], this is another clear evidence of escalated Galamsey on our country. 1,400 arrests in just 8months and yet we still have higher turbidity and worst polluted river bodies. Something is motivating the people to rush into this criminal venture. Let’s look into that!
Source:3news