The Board Chairman of the Forestry Commission, Professor Martin Oteng-Ababio, has underscored the need for strong political will and a unified national approach to effectively tackle illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Friday, October 10, 2025, Professor Oteng-Ababio said the fight against galamsey requires not only enforcement but also coordinated policies and collaboration among key state institutions and local stakeholders.
“Before we can succeed in this fight, we need political will and national consensus. Now, we are talking about it. Every Ghanaian — from pastors to civil society groups — is concerned. So there is consensus that we need to find a solution. But where we are not agreeing is the modus operandi,” he stated.
He expressed concern that existing government interventions are fragmented and operate in silos, reducing their overall impact.
“Additionally, we are saying that the policies should be holistic. They should not be siloed. The EPA does its own thing, the Forestry Commission also does its own thing, and the Water Resources Commission does its own thing.
“We should have a comprehensive policy framework that brings all these institutions together. As of now, the policies are a bit disconnected,” he explained.
Professor Oteng-Ababio also identified the centralisation of the mining licensing regime as a major obstacle to effective regulation.
“Hitherto, if one wanted a license for small-scale mining, they had to come to Accra, and it could take a year or more before approval,” he said. “Imagine someone from Awaso applying for a permit and having to travel to Accra repeatedly for two years. Meanwhile, the lifespan of an illegal mining site typically ranges from six months to a year. By the time the license comes, the land has already been destroyed.”
He argued that delays in licensing only fuel illegal mining and called for the decentralisation of the process to make it more efficient and accessible.
“The government must take the licensing regime to the local level, where institutions such as the EPA, Water Resources Commission, and other key agencies can work directly at the district level,” he proposed.
Professor Oteng-Ababio further recommended involving chiefs, district assemblies, and even small-scale miners themselves in the local licensing process to foster shared responsibility and compliance.
He stressed that without coordinated action, timely licensing, and inclusive governance, efforts to curb galamsey will continue to fall short.
NPP flagbearer aspirants to ballot for positions today