Ghana's Fight Against Illegal Mining: Progress and Challenges

Ghana Makes Strides Against Illegal Mining: Minister Buah Outlines Progress at Mining Summit ACCRA, GHANA – June 2, 2025 – Ghana's fight against illegal mining received a boost today with a presentation by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, at the Mining in motion summit. The minister highlighted significant challenges, including the slow pace of investigation and prosecution of offenders. "In 2023 and 2024, we had 845 arrests, but only 35 successful prosecutions—a mere 4%", Buah stated, emphasizing the need for stronger political will and decisive action from key stakeholders. However, the minister also detailed positive steps taken in recent months. A reformed licensing regime has helped to curb illegal activities. Furthermore, a collaborative effort between the Ghana Police and the Ghana Army has led to the reclamation of eight out of nine degraded forest reserves previously controlled by illegal miners. "We are not under any illusion about the scale of the challenge," Buah added, "but this progress shows the determination to combat this issue." The government also announced initiatives to provide alternative employment and training opportunities for young people, aiming to address the root causes of illegal mining. The "1 Million Coders Programme" will train 150,000 youth in tech skills this year alone. This initiative, coupled with the reclamation efforts, offers hope for a sustainable future for Ghana's mining sector and its communities.