Land Minister Donates Vehicles to Boost Fight Against Illegal Mining in Ellembelle”
At a ceremony held at the AYA Community Centre on Sunday, December 28, 2025, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle and Acting Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, directed a major restructuring of the reporting system within the Minerals Commission to tighten regulation of small-scale mining activities. Under the directive, Minerals Commission officers are now required to maintain detailed records of all small-scale mining companies operating in their jurisdictions. “As a regulator, you must have at your fingertips basic information about small-scale mining companies such as their location, status, lease and expiry dates, EPA permits, community permits and water resources permits,” the Minister stated.
He urged officers to fully utilise their regulatory powers to streamline operations in the mining sector and eliminate loopholes that allow illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, to thrive. The Minister also called on the Blue Water Guards to work closely with the Minerals Commission and the Ghana Police Service to clamp down on illegal miners, assuring guards in Ellembelle, Jomoro, and Nzema East of government support and improved security to enable them carry out their mandate in 2026.
Receiving the vehicles on behalf of the Minerals Commission, Ellembelle District Director Anita Ama Atiasah pledged full alignment with the Minister’s vision to protect water bodies and forest reserves. “We are aware of your will and vision to fight galamsey to protect our water bodies and preserve forest reserves to protect lives,” she said, adding that the Commission would intensify its efforts to prevent illegal mining in the district.
