Ade Coker Calls for Total Ban on Galamsey and Suspension of Small-Scale Mining
Accra, Ghana – April 2, 2025 – Former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Ade Coker, has called for a complete ban on illegal mining (galamsey) and the suspension of small-scale mining to aid land reclamation efforts across the country.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Wednesday, April 2, Ade Coker urged the government to take decisive action to protect Ghana’s natural resources from further degradation.
Proposed Measures for Land Restoration
Ade Coker suggested that large-scale mining companies should also pause operations for at least three to four years to allow for effective land restoration.
“Galamsey should be banned; small-scale mining should be suspended. The big companies should be set aside for the next three to four years to reclaim our land. How much are we getting from our gold? The last time I heard, $2 billion worth of Ghana’s gold was exported to Dubai, and out of that, most of it was smuggled. Ghana gained just peanuts from it,” he lamented.
Tracking Mining Equipment
Ade Coker also stressed the importance of monitoring and tracking excavators used in mining to prevent illegal activities.
“We should have an inventory of all the excavators in this country. We should find out which ones are in road construction and how many are in mining, then call the owners to bring them to designated places,” he stated.
Recent Crackdown on Illegal Mining
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Western Central Regional Police Command has arrested 11 individuals for engaging in illegal mining along the Bonsa River in the Western Region.
The suspects—seven Ghanaians and four Chinese nationals—were apprehended on March 31, 2025, as part of an intelligence-led operation aimed at tackling illegal mining in the region.
Authorities continue to intensify efforts to combat illegal mining and restore Ghana’s degraded lands.
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