Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, has deemed the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey, a failure under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.

Speaking before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on January 27, Armah-Kofi Buah acknowledged the previous government’s efforts to curb the issue, but noted that their attempts yielded no tangible results.

Armah-Kofi Buah pointed out that the New Patriotic Party administration started strong, implementing a six-month ban on mining that was later extended to nine months.

However, after eight years, the outcome is evident: degraded lands, polluted water bodies, and widespread destruction of forest reserves.

These facts, he emphasized, clearly indicate that the fight against galamsey was unsuccessful.

Armah-Kofi Buah has pledged to tackle the issue head-on, implementing sustainable solutions to protect Ghana’s environment and water resources.

He said, “It’s true the NPP administration started very well, there was a ban on mining places, it was six months, and it extended to nine months,” he noted.

“But at the end of the 8 years, the outcome is what we all know—degraded lands, polluted water bodies, and wanton destruction of forest reserves. These are clearly facts that indicate that that fight against was a failure.”