We Won’t Chase You With Soldiers, We Will Give You Licence – Sammy Gyamfi Defends Galamseyers

The CEO of Ghana GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, has clarified what government means when it says it will allow some mining activities.

He was reacting to a viral video from an event at KNUST on March 23, 2026, where he was heard saying, “Whether they have a licence or not, let them mine.”

Many people thought he was supporting galamsey.

But Sammy Gyamfi says the video was cut and misrepresented.

According to him, what government is saying is simple: If you are mining outside red zones, government will regularise you instead of chasing you with soldiers.

“Allow them to mine and regularise their operations if it’s not a water body or forest reserve,” he clarified.

He explained that three types of mining can never be allowed:

 Mining in crazy places like roadsides, schools, and even bedrooms

He said any mining outside these areas, even if the person has no licence, can be made legal under government’s Responsible Cooperative Mining Programme.

“Once miners are not mining in a forest reserve, a water body or an obscene place that negatively impacts the environment, that mineralised area, even if unlicensed, meets the eligibility requirement of formalisation,” he said.

He said formalisation is better than military raids. Government will give them proper documents, training, and support to mine responsibly.

The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) also defended him, saying his plan is to bring people into the legal system, not to endorse illegal mining.

Sammy Gyamfi said GoldBod will next year roll out a financing and training programme with the Ministry of Lands and University of Mines to help small-scale miners do things the right way.

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