By Rachel Quartey & Rukayatu Musah
Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, has praised the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and its allied agencies for their sustained efforts to confront illegal mining and protect Ghana’s water bodies, forests and public health.
The Vice President made the remarks during a working visit to the Ministry as part of her nationwide tour of government institutions, aimed at assessing progress, strengthening accountability and reinforcing government’s development priorities.
Professor Opoku Agyemang said the battle against illegal mining goes beyond environmental protection and directly affects the survival and wellbeing of present and future generations.
“The toughest assignment before this Ministry is to ensure that no child is born with deformities caused by chemicals—whether through contaminated drinking water or polluted air,” she stated.
She described the devastating human cost of environmental degradation as unacceptable, stressing that government cannot compromise on public health for economic gain.
“When you hear that a woman has gone through all the difficulty of pregnancy and delivers a baby in that condition, it is not a funny story. This is about life, dignity and survival,” the Vice President said.
According to her, this reality explains why the Mahama administration is committing both financial and human resources to the fight against illegal mining, while also prioritising coordination among enforcement agencies.
“This government is investing not only money, but people, expertise and coordinated action to confront galamsey. Protecting the environment is not just a moral imperative—it is protecting ourselves,” she added.
The Vice President also acknowledged progress made by the Ministry, particularly in land reclamation and forest restoration, describing the recovery of degraded lands as a critical success that must be scaled up.
“The number of lands being reclaimed is difficult to imagine, but retrieving even a portion of them is an important success story. We want to encourage you to do even more,” she urged.
She further stressed that safeguarding the environment is central to national development and social justice, noting that the poorest communities often bear the worst consequences of environmental destruction.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, briefed the Vice President on key interventions introduced to safeguard the country’s natural resources, including a plan to place all task forces fighting illegal mining under one coordinated framework.
In a detailed presentation, Mr. Buah announced the establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Secretariat (NAIMS) to harmonise law enforcement efforts, improve monitoring and ensure accountability.
“We were all part of the problem, and that compounded the issue of galamsey. So our task was very clear—how do we change the story?” the Minister said.
He outlined a five-pronged strategy focusing on stakeholder engagement, regulatory reforms, strengthened law enforcement, land reclamation and the provision of alternative livelihoods.
Mr. Buah reiterated that government’s approach is not anti-mining, but pro-responsibility and sustainability.
“Mining is the heartbeat of this country, but it must be done responsibly. Traceability and cooperative mining are central to changing how we mine Ghana,” he said.
The Vice President’s visit forms part of government’s broader efforts to strengthen inter-agency coordination and accelerate results in the fight against illegal mining nationwide.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com