Northern Chiefs Back Call for Mining Reforms

Northern Chiefs, led by Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II, have expressed support for government’s intensified fight against illegal mining.

 They have  called for major reforms in land administration and natural resource management.

The agreement was reached during a working visit to the Northern Region by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.

The visit formed part of government’s efforts to ensure regulatory compliance as mining activities expand into northern Ghana.

By working with the Dagbon Traditional Council, the Ministry aims to build a stronger partnership to tackle illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, as the northern part of Ghana emerges as a new area with gold and other mineral deposits.

A representative of the Yaa Naa welcomed the delegation and pledged the support of traditional authorities for government’s efforts to curb illegal mining and promote responsible resource management.

The Lands Minister, who was accompanied by Deputy Minister Yusif Sulemana and the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, stressed that mining activities in the north must be carefully managed to avoid the environmental destruction experienced in some parts of southern Ghana.

He explained that it is important for government to seek the support of traditional leaders, who are custodians of the land, before undertaking any major development project.

The Minister assured the Dagbon Kingdom that government is committed to applying lessons from past mining experiences to ensure that new mining activities are carried out responsibly while protecting the environment and the ecological heritage of the Savannah Region.

The partnership between government and the Dagbon Traditional Council is expected to strengthen enforcement of mining laws, as traditional authorities control a large portion of land and play a key role in community mobilisation and environmental protection.

Traditional leaders also pledged to help resolve land disputes and monitor activities in their communities to prevent illegal mining activities.

The chiefs further called for reforms in land tenure systems to ensure better coordination between customary land ownership and state land administration systems to prevent land fragmentation and conflicts.

They also stressed the need to protect shea parklands, which are important to the northern economy and environmental sustainability, from destruction caused by unregulated mining activities.

The chiefs emphasised that while mining can bring economic benefits, it must not destroy agricultural lands and livelihoods, especially for women who depend on the shea industry for income.

They also called for policies that will create employment opportunities for local people to ensure that communities benefit directly from the natural resources in their areas.

Deputy Minister Yusif Sulemana noted that engaging traditional authorities is necessary because of the important role they play in land and resource governance.

He explained that the collaboration between government and traditional leaders will help integrate local people into the formal mining sector and reduce illegal mining activities among the youth.

The move is aimed at ensuring that Ghana avoids the so-called resource curse, where natural resource wealth does not translate into development for local communities.

The discussions formed part of broader efforts by government and stakeholders to ensure that mining activities in the northern sector are properly regulated, environmentally sustainable and beneficial to local communities.