Sammy Gyamfi faces resignation calls over unlicensed mining remarks

The Minority in Parliament has demanded the immediate resignation of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) CEO, Sammy Gyamfi, following controversial remarks suggesting that certain unlicensed small-scale miners could be formalized while awaiting registration. The opposition argues that Gyamfi’s stance effectively permits the commission of a crime, potentially undermining the country's fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. Alongside the call for his resignation, the Minority has demanded a formal apology and an official condemnation of the statements by the government to ensure the integrity of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).

Legal experts have joined the critique, with Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua of the University of Ghana School of Law asserting that any directive allowing unlicensed mining breaches national law. According to the professor, the Minerals and Mining Act mandates that mineral rights and environmental permits must be secured before any mining activity begins. He warned that public officials who authorize or encourage mining without these licenses could face legal liability for abetting criminal offenses. Professor Appiagyei-Atua also called on President John Mahama to clarify the government's position, arguing that failure to retract the comments could be interpreted as an endorsement of illegal practices.

In defense of the CEO, GoldBod and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources stated that Gyamfi’s remarks were misrepresented and were never intended to endorse galamsey. They emphasized that the proposal specifically targets eligible operators working outside sensitive environmental zones, such as forest reserves and water bodies. Supporters, including the Centre for Mining Research and Policy and NDC Deputy National Communications Officer Julius Kwame Anthony, argued that the focus should remain on Gyamfi’s efforts to transition informal miners into a regulated framework. They maintain that formalization is a practical solution to include artisanal miners in the legal economy while enhancing environmental oversight.

Amid the controversy, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has moved forward with its formalization agenda, recently integrating 11 cooperatives of previously unlicensed miners into the formal sector. The government aims to increase this number to 40 by early 2027 through the Responsible Cooperative Mining Scheme. While the National Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association of Ghana has expressed strong support for these initiatives, legal scholars continue to insist that such transitions must strictly follow existing legislative procedures rather than executive directives that bypass the requirement for prior authorization.