GoldBod Breaks Silence on Sammy Gyamfi Galamsey Row

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has clarified the controversy surrounding its Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, and comments linked to illegal mining, insisting that there is a fundamental difference between permitting galamsey and creating a pathway to regularise eligible unlicensed miners.

The clarification comes amid public debate over the government’s approach to illegal small-scale mining and the measures being considered to address the environmental damage associated with the practice.

According to GoldBod, a policy designed to bring eligible miners into a formal regulatory system should not be interpreted as an endorsement of illegal mining. Rather, the approach is intended to create a framework through which qualified operators can obtain the necessary authorisation and conduct their activities under established rules.

The distinction is important because illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey in Ghana, has been associated with serious environmental concerns, including the pollution of water bodies, destruction of forest reserves and degradation of agricultural land.

Regularisation, on the other hand, involves bringing eligible operators into a system where their activities can be monitored and regulated. Such a framework may require miners to meet licensing conditions, observe environmental standards and comply with applicable mining laws.

GoldBod’s position seeks to separate efforts to formalise eligible mining activities from any suggestion that operators should be allowed to continue working illegally without consequences.

The controversy surrounding Gyamfi has generated discussion about how the government intends to balance efforts to address illegal mining with the need to regulate small-scale mining activities.

The issue also highlights the importance of clear public communication on mining policies, particularly when statements by public officials are interpreted differently by political opponents, environmental advocates and members of the public.

However, the effectiveness of any regularisation programme will depend on transparent eligibility requirements, proper enforcement and measures to ensure that licensed operators comply with environmental and operational standards.

For now, GoldBod’s clarification emphasises that creating a legal pathway for eligible unlicensed miners is not the same as authorising illegal mining. The wider debate over the implementation and enforcement of Ghana’s anti-galamsey measures is likely to continue.

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