Former Tourism Minister and ex-MP for Sekondi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has strongly criticised President John Mahama’s recent proposal for the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to purchase gold from illegal miners commonly known as galamseyers.
In an interview on Thursday, September 11, Mr. Mercer described the idea as deeply troubling and a major setback in Ghana’s ongoing fight against illegal mining.
President Mahama had suggested that the GoldBod should buy all gold mined within the country, including that from galamsey operations, arguing that since the gold belongs to the state, it should be harnessed for national benefit.
He indicated that the move would help boost Ghana’s reserves and strengthen economic resilience.
But Mr. Mercer warned that this approach would effectively legitimise illegal mining, which has already caused widespread environmental destruction.
“If the President himself proposes that the government buy gold from illegal miners, what message are we sending?” he asked.
“Are we now saying it’s acceptable to destroy our rivers, forests, and farmlands as long as the state profits from the gold? That completely undermines the national effort to combat galamsey.”
He emphasised that the GoldBod must only source gold from licensed small and large-scale miners who operate within the legal and environmental framework.
“Our focus should be on supporting legal mining operations and ensuring strict enforcement of mining regulations, state-sanctioned purchases from galamseyers will only embolden illegal activity and erode hard-won progress in protecting our environment,” Mr Mercer said.
