Mahama Unveils GH¢400m War Chest To Crush Galamsey In 2027

According to a report by Ghone TV on Wednesday October 14, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama has announced a proposed allocation of GH¢400 million in the 2027 Budget to strengthen Ghana’s efforts to combat illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The commitment underscores the government’s stated intention to intensify measures against unauthorised mining activities, which have raised serious concerns over environmental degradation, water pollution and the destruction of agricultural lands in several parts of the country.

The proposed funding is expected to support efforts to tackle illegal mining and strengthen the capacity of institutions involved in protecting Ghana’s natural resources.

However, the specific breakdown of the allocation and the programmes it will finance would need to be confirmed through the detailed budget documents.

Illegal mining remains a significant environmental and governance challenge for Ghana.

The activities have been associated with the pollution of rivers and other water bodies, damage to forest reserves, land degradation and threats to communities that depend on clean water and fertile soil for their livelihoods.

The proposed GH¢400 million allocation signals the importance the government intends to attach to addressing the problem as part of its 2027 fiscal plans.

The effectiveness of the funding, however, will depend on how it is deployed, the strength of enforcement measures and the ability of the relevant agencies to ensure that resources achieve their intended objectives.

The announcement was made during a meeting with chiefs from the Western North Regional House of Chiefs at the Presidency in Accra on October 13, 2026.

President Mahama appealed to traditional authorities to cooperate with the government and security agencies, particularly in communities where illegal mining operations have encountered resistance.

A major component of the proposed funding is the recruitment of additional Blue Water Guards to patrol rivers and other water bodies threatened by illegal mining.

President Mahama explained that the guards would strengthen surveillance and support efforts to remove equipment used by illegal miners, including changfang machines, which are deployed in river-based mining operations.

He indicated that operations had already resulted in the destruction of several such machines and the clearing of sections of major river channels.

However, he acknowledged that protecting Ghana’s extensive network of waterways remained difficult, as pollution and sediment from smaller tributaries continued to affect rivers even after major channels had been cleared.

The additional funding is therefore intended to reinforce monitoring and enforcement efforts, although the full recruitment targets and implementation arrangements have not yet been detailed in the reports of the announcement.

The President stressed that chiefs and traditional leaders have an important role to play in the fight against galamsey because of their close relationships with residents in mining communities.

He appealed to traditional authorities to help build public support for enforcement operations and discourage community members from obstructing security personnel carrying out their duties.

According to the President, some anti-illegal-mining operations have faced resistance from young people and other residents, occasionally leading to dangerous confrontations with security forces.

He said stronger cooperation between the government, traditional authorities and local communities was necessary to reduce such incidents and make enforcement more effective.

The appeal highlights the importance of community participation in protecting natural resources, particularly in areas where illegal mining has become a source of income for residents.

Beyond enforcement, President Mahama emphasised the need to provide alternative livelihoods for young people who engage in illegal mining because of limited economic opportunities.

He linked the government’s anti-galamsey campaign to its broader New Economy Policy, which is intended to encourage investment and create employment across productive sectors of the economy.

The government believes that expanding access to decent work and sustainable sources of income could help reduce the number of young people drawn into illegal mining.

The President indicated that chiefs would be important partners in efforts to support this approach within their traditional areas.

The strategy reflects the challenge of addressing galamsey through enforcement alone, particularly in communities where mining provides income for households.

Creating viable alternatives while ensuring that illegal activities are stopped remains a key part of the broader policy challenge.

President Mahama also reported progress in operations targeting forest reserves previously identified as severely affected by illegal mining.

He said the government had cleared all nine forest reserves classified as red zones and deployed soldiers to help prevent illegal miners from returning to those areas.

He further indicated that efforts were underway to reclaim damaged land and restore affected environments.

These measures are intended to protect forest ecosystems, preserve water resources and limit further environmental destruction.

The proposed GH¢400 million allocation will add to the government’s planned interventions as it seeks to strengthen protection of rivers and other vulnerable areas.

Ultimately, the success of the funding will depend on effective recruitment, sustained patrols, cooperation from local communities and transparent monitoring of how the resources are used.

As preparations continue for the 2027 Budget, the commitment places the fight against illegal mining among the environmental and enforcement priorities the government intends to pursue.

The detailed budget statement, expected to be presented to Parliament in November, will provide further information on the government’s wider spending plans.

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