Gyamfi Was Referring to Formalising Mining, Not Authorising Miners to Operate Without Permit — Kwesi

Paa Kwesi Schandorf, spokesperson for the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and Media Relations Officer for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has clarified that Ghana Gold Board Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi was referring to the formalisation of mining activities rather than encouraging miners to begin operating without the necessary permits.

Schandorf explained that Gyamfi’s comments concerned the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), which is intended to support the formalisation of eligible mining activities under an organised framework.

According to Schandorf, Gyamfi was not directing miners to move to mining sites and immediately begin operations without obtaining the required authorisations, as such an interpretation would misrepresent the point he was making.

“GoldBod CEO, Sammy Gyamfi, was not asking miners to move to mining sites and commence operations immediately without permits. Rather, he was referring to the formalisation of mining activities under the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP),” Schandorf stated.

His clarification comes amid discussions about Gyamfi’s position on mining and whether his comments should be understood as support for illegal mining activities.

Illegal mining, commonly known in Ghana as galamsey, remains a major environmental concern because of its impact on water bodies, forest reserves and agricultural land.

The practice has prompted sustained efforts by government institutions to strengthen enforcement, protect natural resources and encourage mining activities that comply with the country’s laws.

Schandorf’s explanation draws a distinction between allowing individuals to mine without authorisation and creating a structured process through which eligible operators can transition into lawful mining arrangements.

Under a formalisation approach, miners are expected to meet the applicable legal requirements before conducting operations, including obtaining the necessary permits and complying with relevant regulatory conditions.

The rCOMSDEP initiative is central to the explanation provided by Schandorf, who linked Gyamfi’s remarks to efforts to organise eligible mining activities within a more structured framework.

Formalisation can help bring mining operators under regulatory supervision, making it possible for the relevant authorities to monitor their activities and hold them accountable for compliance with applicable rules.

However, being part of a formalisation initiative should not be interpreted as automatic permission to begin mining without the required approvals.

The clarification therefore emphasises the need to understand Gyamfi’s comments in the context of the programme he was discussing rather than interpreting them as an instruction for miners to commence operations without permits.

Schandorf’s statement maintains that the issue at the centre of Gyamfi’s remarks was the formalisation of eligible mining activities under rCOMSDEP, not the authorisation of mining operations without the necessary legal requirements.

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