Galamsey: EPA Deputy CEO Cautions Sammy Gyamfi Over Call to Formalize Unlicensed Miners

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Professor Michael Ayamga-Adongo, during an interview on Citi FM on Saturday October 24, 2026 described

comments by Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi on formalising unlicensed small-scale miners as contextual but oversimplified.

He has cautioned that although bringing eligible miners into the formal sector could help address illegal mining, the process must not be reduced to obtaining a mining licence alone.

Prof. Ayamga-Adongo explained that Mr Gyamfi’s remarks could be understood as an effort to encourage miners operating outside the legal framework to seek the necessary permits and authorisations to conduct their activities lawfully.

However, he warned that presenting the galamsey problem primarily as a licensing issue could complicate efforts to enforce Ghana’s mining and environmental regulations.

Speaking to Umaru Sanda Amadu on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Friday, October 23, 2026, the EPA Deputy CEO stressed that a mining lease does not automatically give an individual or company the right to begin mining operations.

According to him, operators must satisfy several regulatory requirements before they can legally extract minerals, including obtaining an environmental permit and meeting the conditions established by the relevant authorities.

“I’ll be very categorical here that the statement made by the CEO of GoldBod was a contextual one, trying to encourage people that if you are outside of regulation, you should try and seek regulations and the necessary backing to do your work,” he said.

He added, “But I also think that it’s an oversimplification of the problem, and if that is not put in the right context, it would complicate our problem of illegal mining and trying to bring people into regulation.”

Prof. Ayamga-Adongo explained that the legal process requires miners to obtain the appropriate mining rights, secure an environmental permit and subsequently obtain an operating permit from the Minerals Commission.

If you liked this story, please follow or tip the author to help them write more!