“We’ve Made Over 500 Arrests” – Govt on Galamsey Crackdown
But only 4% of arrests between 2022 and 2024 led to prosecution, raising concerns about enforcement
- Over 500 people arrested in the past five months in renewed anti-galamsey efforts
- Only 4% of arrests since 2022 have led to prosecution
- Government to reclaim 10,000 hectares of degraded land through a new restoration initiative
In the past five months, the government has arrested more than 500 individuals in a renewed crackdown on illegal mining—commonly known as galamsey—while simultaneously launching an ambitious land restoration project targeting 10,000 hectares of degraded terrain.
Officials say the intensified operations aim to reverse the environmental damage caused by years of unregulated mining, which continues to pollute water bodies, destroy farmland, and disrupt rural livelihoods.
Despite these efforts, concerns remain over the campaign’s effectiveness, largely due to a low prosecution rate.
According to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, from 2022 to 2024, only 35 out of 845 arrests led to prosecution—a conviction rate of just 4%.
Sector Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah cited the lack of follow-through in the legal process as a major hurdle, noting that political interference in the licensing system has also undermined regulatory integrity. “Licenses were often granted based on political connections without proper vetting, which had to be corrected,” he said.
President John Dramani Mahama reiterated the government’s commitment to reversing the environmental toll of illegal mining.
He announced a forthcoming public-private partnership through the GoldBod to reclaim thousands of hectares of destroyed land. “Let’s shift from competition to collaboration,” the President urged.
