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The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has slammed the erstwhile Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led administration for its poor handling of the galamsey menace. Speaking at a stakeholder engagement on illegal mining in Accra, Mr. Buah revealed that weak enforcement led to the escalation of the crisis, with a meager 4% of arrests resulting in prosecution between 2023 and 2024.
Out of 845 arrests made during the period, only 35 cases were successfully prosecuted. The Minister lamented the slow pace of investigations and prosecutions, citing it as a major setback in the government’s crackdown on illegal mining. Breaking down the figures, Mr. Buah disclosed that in 2023, 218 individuals were arrested, leading to just 24 prosecutions, while in 2024, 627 individuals were arrested, but only 11 cases were successfully prosecuted.
The Minister’s concerns are centered around the weak enforcement, which he believes contributed to the galamsey menace. He pointed out that the limited commitment and lack of political will among key stakeholders under the previous administration were major factors in the crisis. The statistics are telling: 845 arrests made, but only 35 cases successfully prosecuted, which translates to a mere 4% success rate.
In contrast, Mr. Buah has vowed to deal ruthlessly with illegal miners, describing them as enemies of the state. He emphasized that the current administration is committed to protecting Ghana’s natural resources and environment. With a renewed sense of purpose, the Minister is determined to tackle the galamsey menace head-on, and it remains to be seen how his approach will differ from the previous administration.
epos MBN360 news
