Minority demands Sammy Gyamfi resign over mining comments

The Minority in Parliament, led by Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, the Ranking Member of the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, has called for the immediate resignation of Sammy Gyamfi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board. The demand follows controversial public remarks made by Gyamfi suggesting that small-scale mining operations conducted outside of protected areas might be lawful even without a license. This assertion has sparked significant backlash from lawmakers and environmental advocates who argue that such claims undermine the state's efforts to regulate the mining sector and combat the illegal mining menace known as galamsey.

Ampratwum-Sarpong criticized the CEO for making statements that damage the credibility of state institutions. He called on the government to sanction Gyamfi and demanded a formal apology for the remarks, which he believes could mislead miners into bypassing legal procedures. In addition to the resignation demand, the Minority is pushing for a comprehensive audit of recent gold transactions and the presentation of a transparent roadmap to eliminate illegal mining, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability in the management of Ghana's natural resources.

Civil society organizations have joined the call for a retraction. Awula Serwah, Executive Director of Eco-Conscious Citizens, warned that Gyamfi’s comments could lead to an ecological catastrophe if they are used to justify unauthorized mining activities. She stressed the importance of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and urged President John Mahama to reaffirm that mining without a proper license and regulatory approval is a criminal act. Serwah noted that illegal mining continues to pose a severe threat to the nation’s agricultural land and vital water bodies.

Legal expert Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua has also called on President Mahama to publicly clarify the administration's stance on illegal mining to prevent the perception that the government condones galamsey. He argued that ambiguous statements from public officials could undermine government efforts to protect the environment and insisted that any changes to mining laws must follow established legal processes rather than being inferred from personal statements. The controversy highlights the critical need for a unified and clear government policy to address the environmental risks associated with unregulated mining.