Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has revealed that more than 850 individuals are currently being prosecuted for their alleged involvement in illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
This disclosure comes amid increasing concerns over the harmful effects of galamsey on Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.
Speaking at the 2024/2025 annual general conference of the Ghana Bar Association, Yeboah Dame noted that 140 cases of illegal mining are being investigated across five regions: Western, Eastern, Ashanti, Greater Accra, and Upper East.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by prosecutors in court but emphasized the progress made in combating the illegal activity.
“Illegal mining continues to damage our forest reserves and water bodies. Despite the difficulties encountered by prosecutors, some successes have been achieved,” Yeboah Dame stated.
He highlighted that since August 2021, 76 convictions have been secured, including that of notorious Chinese galamsey queen, Aisha Huang, who was convicted in December 2023 for offenses committed between 2014 and 2016.
The Attorney General affirmed the government’s commitment to tackling the galamsey menace, with stiff penalties for those convicted. Under the new law, Act 995, non-Ghanaians face minimum sentences of 15 years along with heavy fines, while some cases nearing conclusion promise to deliver more convictions.
Yeboah Dame expressed confidence in the judiciary’s role in addressing illegal mining, stressing the importance of continued efforts to eliminate the practice.