Authorities have arrested 1,400 individuals in connection with illegal mining operations over the past eight months, as the government steps up efforts to curb environmental damage from so-called galamsey activity, the country’s Lands and Natural Resources Minister said Wednesday.
The figure, disclosed by Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah during an interview on Ghana’s state broadcaster GTV, marks a sharp increase from the roughly 800 arrests recorded over nearly three years under the previous administration.
“This demonstrates that the current strategy is producing tangible results,” Mr. Buah said. “We have seized 440 excavators and more than 800 changfans. We have mobilized Blue Water Guards in key regions, and they are making a difference.”
Illegal gold mining, widely practiced in Ghana’s mineral-rich regions, has long been a source of both economic activity and environmental degradation. The government’s crackdown comes amid growing public concern over polluted rivers, deforestation, and the long-term impact of unregulated mining.
While law enforcement has been central to the initiative, Mr. Buah emphasized that the government is also working to offer alternative, legal pathways for small-scale miners.
“We are providing training and building the capacity of those who want to transition into legal mining,” he said, adding that the government is partnering with large-scale mining firms to create more structured employment opportunities within the sector.
The minister said the administration aims to strike a balance between environmental protection and economic inclusion in one of the country's most critical industries.
