CAGG petitions Attorney General to investigate Gold Board CEO Sammy Gyamfi

The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (CAGG) has officially petitioned the Attorney General to investigate Sammy Gyamfi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board. The petition centers on recent public remarks made by Gyamfi regarding the regulation of small-scale mining, which the coalition argues could be interpreted as endorsing or enabling illegal activities, commonly known as galamsey. CAGG is urging the Attorney General’s Office to determine if these assertions constitute a breach of the law or encourage the circumvention of established environmental protections.

CAGG's grievance stems from statements attributed to Gyamfi implying that artisanal and small-scale miners might operate without formal licenses, provided they avoid forest reserves and water bodies. The coalition expressed deep concern that such a position undermines the legal framework governing the mining sector. By suggesting that mining is permissible as long as it avoids specific zones, CAGG contends the Gold Board CEO is effectively providing a roadmap for unlicensed operations that still cause significant environmental damage outside of protected forests.

Adding weight to the backlash against the Gold Board’s stance, Elizabeth Vaah, leader of the Ghana Environmental Advocacy Group, has described the proposed plan to formalize "eligible" galamseyers as "lazy." Vaah argued that the approach focuses on administrative convenience rather than strict enforcement, raising alarms about potential land encroachment and continued environmental destruction. She questioned the government’s commitment to regulation, suggesting that formalizing miners who have already bypassed the law sets a dangerous precedent for the industry.

The petition marks a significant escalation in the tension between environmental advocates and the Gold Board leadership under the current administration. As the Attorney General reviews the request, the debate continues over whether the state should prioritize the strict prosecution of unlicensed mining or pursue a path of regularization for those operating outside sensitive ecological zones. The outcome of this investigation could define the legal boundaries of executive commentary on natural resource management and the future of mining enforcement in Ghana.