The Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) yesterday presented a cheque of GH¢5m and five brand-new pickups to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in support of the national fight against illegal mining, ‘galamsey’.
The gesture to donate to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) in Accra, formed part of the Board’s commitment to sustainable and responsible mining in the country.
Presenting the items, the Chief Executive Officer of GOLDBOD, Mr Sammy Gyamfi, said the intervention underscored the Board’s resolve to protect the country’s environment while ensuring that it derived maximum benefit from its rich gold resources.
“Our nation is blessed with abundant natural resources, especially gold, it must be harnessed responsibly for national development without compromising our environment and future. While gold boosts our foreign exchange, reserves, and currency stability, it must be sourced in a way that safeguards our water bodies, forests, and livelihoods,” he said.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the donation was part of various initiatives by the GoldBod aimed at preserving the ecological integrity of mining communities and supporting sustainable mining practices.
He reiterated government’s commitment to stamp out illegal mining, which he described as “a menace threatening our collective survival.”
Mr Gyamfi pledged that the GOLDBOD would continue to work closely with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the recently established NAIMOS to consolidate gains made so far in the fight.
Receiving the donation, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Amarh-Kofi Buah, lauded the GOLDBOD for demonstrating leadership beyond gold purchasing, by actively backing responsible mining practices.
“This ceremony proves that GOLDBOD is not only focused on buying gold but is also committed to ensuring that every ounce of Ghanaian gold is traced to a responsible source. We are collaborating in critical areas such as land reclamation, forest protection, and the promotion of cooperative mining,” he said.
The Lands Minister stressed that the government was determined to restore water bodies and forest cover, adding that no mining lease had been granted in any forest reserve over the past eight months.
Mr Buah also outlined ongoing reforms to strengthen enforcement, including closer collaboration with the Attorney-General to ensure effective prosecution of offenders, geofencing and tracking of excavators with the Ministry of Transport, and empowering Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to take responsibility at the local level.
“So far, we have tracked almost 800 excavators, compared to fewer than 50 when we started. Every machine is now monitored. We are also deploying mobile registration teams from the Environmental Protection Agency and Minerals Commission to communities, cutting down bureaucracy and ensuring quick but thorough licensing. Once this process is completed, no one will have an excuse to mine irresponsibly,” Mr Kofi Buah emphasised.
On his part, the Director of Operations of NAIMOS, Colonel Dominic Buah, expressed gratitude for the donation, describing it as timely and critical to the Secretariat’s operational needs.
BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA
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