Ghana's Lands Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has declared that the government's primary obstacle in combating illegal mining, known as 'galamsey', is the successful prosecution of arrested suspects.
The Minister explained that while security operations have led to numerous arrests and the confiscation of mining equipment, the justice system struggles to secure convictions. By July 2026, authorities had arrested 258 individuals during operations targeting illegal mining within forest reserves. Mr. Buah emphasized, "The challenge we are having is not the arrest. It is the prosecution."
This difficulty in prosecution undermines Ghana's broader efforts to protect its natural resources and formalize the mining sector. Illegal mining causes severe environmental degradation, pollutes water bodies, and leads to significant revenue losses for the state. The ongoing struggle to bring offenders to justice risks perpetuating these harmful activities, impacting the nation's economic stability and long-term development goals. This situation also affects investor confidence in the formal mining sector.
Mr. Buah made this disclosure during a policy engagement with the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education in Accra. He stated that his Ministry is actively engaging the Attorney-General’s Department to resolve these prosecutorial difficulties. This engagement aims to strengthen the legal framework and improve the efficiency of the justice system in handling complex illegal mining cases.
The government's admission highlights a critical bottleneck in its anti-galamsey campaign. Stakeholders will closely monitor the collaboration between the Lands Ministry and the Attorney-General's Department for tangible improvements in conviction rates. Effective prosecution is crucial for deterring future illegal mining activities and safeguarding Ghana's environment and economy. Without stronger legal consequences, enforcement efforts risk becoming a revolving door for offenders.
The challenge comes amid intensified enforcement activities. As of July 2026, authorities reported seizing 200 excavators, 1,469 pumping machines, and 950 changfan machines. These seizures demonstrate the scale of illegal operations and the government's commitment to disrupting them. However, the lack of successful prosecutions diminishes the overall impact of these costly operations. The economic cost of environmental damage from galamsey is substantial, estimated to be in the billions of GHS annually. This includes costs for water treatment, land reclamation, and biodiversity loss. The government's ability to effectively prosecute will determine the long-term success of its environmental protection policies.