Attorney-General (A-G), Godfred Yeboah Dame, has revealed that over 850 individuals are facing prosecution for illegal mining (galamsey).
At the Ghana Bar Association’s annual general conference, Mr Yeboah Dame revealed that 140 cases of illegal mining are being investigated across five regions (Western, Eastern, Ashanti, Greater-Accra and Upper East).
He highlighted the challenges faced by prosecutors in court but noted that progress had been made, with 76 convictions secured since August 2021.
The Attorney-General further assured that the government is committed to tackling the galamsey menace, with stiff penalties imposed on convicts, including minimum sentences of 15 years and hefty fines for non-Ghanaians.
Mr Dame cited the case of the notorious Chinese galamsey queen, Aisha Huang, who was found guilty of mining-related offences.
He expressed confidence that the judiciary will continue to play a crucial role in combating illegal mining.
The A-G emphasized that some cases are nearing a conclusion and that the government is working to address the issue.
His assurance is coming at a time when there is a general call to ban small-scale mining because of its devastating impact on water bodies.
Illegal mining, popularly referred to as galamsey, has been a major issue in Ghana, with recent reports by the media indicating that the practice has led to the destruction of several rivers, including River Ankobra, River Bia, River Pra, and River Tano.
The government has taken several steps to eradicate illegal mining, but the problem persists due to the high demand for gold and other precious minerals.
In March 2023, the Lands Ministry revealed that the Minerals Commission is to install tracking devices on 4,000 excavators and earthmoving equipment as part of measures to clamp down on galamsey.
Also, about 300 river wardens completed a 4-week intensive pre-deployment training course at the Eastern Naval Command in Tema on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, to prepare them to provide security to the country’s various river bodies.
Over 20 Chinese Nationals are currently facing prosecution in the various courts in the country.
In October 2022, President Nana Akufo-Addo reiterated his resolve to fight the canker, but still the issue persists.