Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, is drawing a hard line in the sand—or rather, in the riverbeds.
In a bold and urgent message to illegal miners, popularly known as galamseyers, Buah warned that the days of unchecked destruction of Ghana’s rivers are coming to an end.
“We are sending a warning to anybody who has been violating our laws and destroying our water bodies. We are determined to turn them blue again,” the minister said during a high-stakes anti-galamsey patrol along the heavily polluted Ankobra River in the Nzema East Municipality.
Flanked by officers from the National Anti-illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Buah issued a stark ultimatum: Get out of the rivers, or face the consequences.
“This order has already been given — stay out, or you do so at your own peril,” he stated.
Ghana’s battle against illegal mining has intensified in recent years, as river bodies vital to drinking water, agriculture, and biodiversity have turned murky brown from the sediment and chemicals used in unregulated mining. The Ankobra, Pra, and Offin Rivers—once lifelines of their communities—have become symbols of environmental crisis.
But according to Buah, a new chapter is beginning.
“We are moving to another major phase of our fight against illegal mining. There is no law in Ghana that allows anybody to mine in any river body,” he emphasized. “Yet, our major rivers that are key to our survival are being destroyed.”
The government’s new strategy includes a more aggressive enforcement approach, with direct involvement from security forces. President John Dramani Mahama, Buah revealed, has instructed that full control of all major rivers be handed over to the security apparatus.
“In the coming months, you will see a new shift. President Mahama’s focus is clear — we are going to take direct control of every river body. There will be a clear occupation by our security forces on all the major rivers,” Buah said.
The message is loud and clear: Ghana’s rivers are not up for grabs. As the country moves into this next phase of enforcement, illegal miners are being put on notice. The state is watching — and this time, it’s prepared to act.
