Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah labels illegal mining a national security threat

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has declared illegal mining a "direct assault" on Ghana's national security during a major conference in Kumasi. Speaking at the National Conference of MMDCEs on Illegal Small-Scale Mining on November 2, 2026, Buah warned that short-term economic gains from "galamsey" are being prioritized at the disastrous expense of the nation's water bodies and forest reserves. He emphasized that the government is committed to a decisive fight to protect natural resources for future generations, highlighting recent successes in reclaiming and protecting several forest reserves from encroachers.

Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, reinforced this message by putting Regional Ministers and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on notice. Ayariga asserted that local officials will be held directly accountable for environmental damages occurring within their jurisdictions. He urged local leaders to stop deferring responsibility to the central government, stating that the protection of natural resources is a collective duty. Ayariga also defended the Lands Ministry against sole blame for the crisis, arguing that effective combat against the menace requires active, ground-level participation from local administrative heads.

Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, expanded on the security and diplomatic dimensions of the crisis. She warned that the pollution of shared rivers like the Tano and Bia is jeopardizing Ghana's relations with neighboring countries and could spark regional tension. Furthermore, she cautioned that proceeds from illicit mining could potentially fund extremism in the Sahel region, elevating the domestic crisis to a matter of regional stability. Agyeman-Rawlings also highlighted severe public health risks, particularly for children and pregnant women, and the growing threat to food security as mining activities continue to degrade agricultural land.

The conference also addressed internal challenges and complicity within the state structure. Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, President of the National House of Chiefs, criticized certain traditional leaders and MMDCEs for actively undermining anti-galamsey efforts. He called for a non-partisan approach to the crisis, noting that the problem has persisted across various administrations. Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene concluded the session by calling for local authorities to be integrated into direct anti-mining operations rather than leaving enforcement entirely to security forces, urging MMDCEs to prioritize immediate land reclamation and establish local coordination mechanisms.