December 26, 2026, Paramount Chiefs and traditional leaders in the Western Region have launched a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) named the Positive Action for Environmental Protection – Western Regional Chiefs-Ghana (PAFEP-WRC-GH) at Nsein to address the issue of galamsey. During the inaugural ceremony, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, expressed gratitude to the Western Regional House of Chiefs and traditional leaders for their support in the government’s efforts to combat galamsey and restore the environment. He explained that under the new licensing system, mining licenses will first be issued to the chiefs, elders, the Assembly, and community leaders. He also highlighted the severe impact of illegal mining prior to the NDC taking office. Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah pointed out that out of 288 forest reserves in the country, 44 have been overrun by galamsey operators and marked as red zones, leading to the destruction of 6,000 hectares of forest reserves.
The Minister pointed out that the typical turbidity level of water ranges from 0 to 500, but it has recently skyrocketed to alarming levels between 5,000 and 12,000. This pollution has made it challenging for the Ghana Water Company to treat the water properly. Mr. Buah highlighted the severe impacts of galamsey, referencing medical reports that show deformities in newborns and the contamination of cocoa farms with harmful galamsey chemicals. He stressed that while the government supports sustainable mining practices, a few greedy individuals continue to engage in galamsey, ignoring the serious consequences. To combat this issue, the government has started regulating the importation of excavators. “Miners must provide proof of legal mining documents before they can import excavators,” he stated. Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah also mentioned that 1,300 excavators lacking proper documentation have been seized at Mitchell Camp in Accra as part of the geo-fencing and tracking initiative. Other efforts to tackle galamsey include the Tree for Life initiative, Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development (RCOMDESP), the National Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), and the Blue Water Guards Initiative. The Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketiah V, who chaired the event, expressed his worries about the current generation’s lack of respect for the environment and water bodies. He called on everyone to participate and embrace the “Positive Action Now” slogan to put an end to illegal mining activities. Nana Kobina Nketiah V stated that the Western Regional House of Chiefs would take measures to ensure the success of the PAFEP-WRC-GH initiative.
The Paramount Chief of the Nsein Traditional Area, Awulae Agyevi Kwame, shared the significant damage caused by illegal mining, including the destruction of railway lines and Ghana Gas pipelines in the Prestea region. He urged Nana Kobina Nketiah to organize a meeting with the Western Regional House of Chiefs to enhance efforts against illegal mining. Awulae Agyevi Kwame pointed out that their ancestors practiced gold mining in a sustainable manner, stressing that gold mining itself isn’t inherently harmful. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Nzema East also emphasized the need for family heads and farmers to participate in the fight against illegal mining. He stated, “Only the law can put an end to illegal mining, as it becomes unlawful when it affects river bodies.” He called on chiefs to take the lead in this battle and urged all parties involved to remove politics from discussions about illegal mining. Hon. Kuah-Dickson highlighted that Nzema East Municipality had the highest rate of illegal mining operations in 2025. He also encouraged the media to provide accurate reports on mining activities to dispel the misconception that “everyone involved in small-scale mining is part of illegal mining.”
By Nzematoday TV
