Galamsey Crisis: Ade Coker Calls for 3-4 Year Mining Suspension to Restore Lands
Former NDC Chairman calls for a complete ban on illegal mining and suspension of small-scale mining to restore Ghana's environment.
- Coker calls for a 3-4 year halt to mining for land restoration
- Proposes tracking all excavators to curb illegal mining
- Highlights minimal gold profits due to smuggling
Joseph Ade Coker, former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged for a comprehensive ban on illegal mining (galamsey) and a halt to small-scale mining to allow for the recovery of degraded lands across Ghana.
Speaking in an interview, Coker emphasized the urgency of taking firm steps to protect the country’s natural resources from further devastation.
Coker proposed that large-scale mining companies suspend their operations for three to four years to facilitate land restoration.
He also pointed out the minimal benefits Ghana has reaped from gold exports, particularly highlighting that much of the gold is smuggled out, with Ghana only receiving a fraction of its worth.
In addition to these measures, Coker recommended implementing a tracking system for excavators used in mining to prevent illegal operations and ensure accountability.
He advocated for keeping an inventory of all excavators in the country, specifically distinguishing those used for mining from those employed in road construction.
In related news, the Western Central Regional Police Command arrested 11 people for illegal mining along the Bonsa River in the Western Region, including seven Ghanaians and four Chinese nationals, on March 31, 2025, in an intelligence-led operation.
