The fight against unauthorized mining is one of the key commitments of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama. Since his recent return to office, his administration has launched a series of concrete measures to tackle this environmental and economic scourge.
On Monday, April 21, the government officially revoked the mining lease of Akonta Mining Limited, a company accused of illegally extracting gold within the protected Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. This decision is part of a broader crackdown on illegal mining operations often conducted outside the legal framework.
Back in January, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a directive calling for strict sanctions against those engaging in such practices. Measures under consideration include the seizure of equipment used in illegal gold mining.
In March, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, revoked all small-scale mining licenses issued after December 7, 2024, deeming them non-compliant with established procedures. He also announced the creation of a technical committee tasked with reviewing all small-scale mining permits to better regulate the process and ensure compliance with environmental standards.
Ghana, once known as the « Gold Coast », is facing a surge in unregulated gold mining, particularly through artisanal activities locally referred to as galamsey. While embedded in the informal economy, these practices cause serious harm to ecosystems and reportedly cost the country over $2.3 billion per year, according to the Wilson Center.
Despite previous efforts, including during his first term (2012–2017), Mahama had not succeeded in permanently curbing the phenomenon. The civic organization Institute for Progressive Governance is calling for a collective and non-partisan approach in order to achieve lasting results in this national struggle.
