The Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Akwasi Konadu, has accused persons in positions of power of backing illegal miners, a situation he says has emboldened them to operate with impunity across parts of the country.
According to him, the growing boldness of illegal miners is evident in their ability to operate in protected areas, near security installations and even around critical public infrastructure without apparent fear of arrest or prosecution.
Speaking on the galamsey menace, Mr. Konadu linked the resurgence of illegal mining activities to the government’s decision in 2025 to terminate the licences of 278 small-scale miners.
He argued that the termination of the licences pushed some of the affected miners into illegal operations, while the government simultaneously increased its reliance on gold purchases to support its foreign exchange strategy.
“Somewhere around October 2025, just about two or three months after the death of the 8th May, when government terminated licences of small-scale miners in this country, that was when GoldBod also came into play. And that was when government needed to buy more gold to finance what it termed as the foreign trade in this country. Evans, you and I, where were they going to get it from?” he asked.
Mr. Konadu noted that small-scale mining gold has now overtaken large-scale mining gold in terms of purchases and exports, raising questions about the sources of the gold being traded.
He said some of the individuals whose licences were revoked could have resorted to illegal mining as a means of continuing their operations.
“So, where are we getting it from? Those who had licences. We took 278 of them off. Those individuals, where do you think they were going to mine? They were now going to mine illegally,” he said.
The lawmaker further expressed concern over reports of heavily armed individuals protecting illegal miners in some mining communities, describing the development as a serious threat to national security and the authority of traditional and state institutions.
He cited accounts from chiefs in Atronia and Konongo, where traditional authorities have reportedly had to take drastic measures, including placing curses on persons engaged in illegal mining activities.
“Now, it has gotten to a stage that even Nananom had to come in and be placing curses on people who are doing small-scale mining activities in this country. We’ve seen that in Atronia. We’ve seen some in Konongo,” Mr. Konadu said.
He said accounts from chiefs in Atronia were particularly disturbing, alleging that some illegal miners were operating under the protection of well-armed persons.
According to him, such protection has created an atmosphere where illegal miners feel powerful enough to confront residents and other persons who attempt to challenge their activities.
“When you listen to the account of the Atronia Chiefs, it’s harrowing. When they tell you that people are well-armed and protecting these illegal small-scale miners in the forest, the people who are engaged in the activities now are emboldened because, first and foremost, they have people primarily in power backing them,” he stated.
Mr. Konadu questioned why illegal mining activities continue to take place in areas where state institutions and major public projects are located.
He cited mining activities around Oda, Adanse Asoka and Mpohor, including areas close to facilities associated with the government’s Agenda 111 health infrastructure program.
“You would not have heard what is happening in Oda happening. You would not have heard what is happening in Adanse Asoka happening. Where behind Agenda 111, a facility that is meant to solve our health problems. It is being mined uncontrollably, and people are looking at it,” he said.
He also alleged that illegal mining was taking place in front of a police station at Mpohor, questioning how such activities could continue in the full view of law enforcement authorities.
“Go to Mpohor. In front of a police station, people are mining. So it obviously tells you that the threats that people are bringing because they have persons backing them, that is why now it is open and people are attacking people,” Mr. Konadu added.
The Deputy Ranking Member described the situation as worrying and called for stronger enforcement of Ghana’s mining laws, stressing that the fight against illegal mining cannot succeed if individuals involved in the practice continue to enjoy political or institutional protection.
Source: Newspyramid.com
