We can’t stop Galamsey fully – Abu Jinapor

The immediate past Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has admitted that illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, remains a significant challenge despite efforts made under his leadership.

“We did our very best, from the consultative dialogue to Operation Halt and the reforms we implemented,” Jinapor stated, emphasizing that some progress had been made, particularly in large-scale mining.

“Ghana is now Africa’s leading gold producer, yet the problem of galamsey persists.”

He explained that the fundamental driver of illegal mining is gold itself.

“Gold is money, and with its price skyrocketing, the urge to secure it at all costs is insatiable,” he noted.

“It’s extremely difficult to clamp down on because of the various factors involved—traditional authorities, local political leadership, law enforcement challenges, and political interests.”

Jinapor acknowledged that while some measures were successful, the issue remains a work in progress.

“We did not eliminate illegal small-scale mining, and it is important to concede that,” he admitted.

“The new minister, Kofi Amoah, is highly capable, and with a collective national effort, we should be able to make further progress.”

Drawing comparisons to other countries, he pointed out that illegal mining is a global issue.

“South Africa has Zama Zama, where police officers are even killed because of illegal mining. Even in Australia, there are concerns about unlawful mining activities,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Jinapor remains optimistic.

“We can’t eliminate crime, but we can contain it. What disturbs Ghanaians is when illegal miners destroy forest reserves, river bodies, and communities. That’s where the real concern lies,” he asserted.

Source: Ghanaweb