The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II, has called for the public exposure of chiefs and political figures complicit in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, as Ghana grapples with the worsening environmental destruction caused by the practice.
His call comes in the wake of revelations by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who disclosed on May 10, 2025, that 44 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves have been degraded, with more than 5,252 hectares destroyed by illegal mining despite repeated government pledges to curb the menace.
The debate has further intensified following recent attacks on the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Development Fund, Dr. Hanna Bissiw, which have reignited public anger over the credibility of the anti-galamsey campaign. Civil society organizations have since renewed demands for a total ban on mining in forest reserves and the repeal of Legislative Instrument 2462, which they argue weakens environmental safeguards.
Speaking on the issue, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II condemned political interference and selective enforcement of laws, saying such practices have crippled national efforts to end galamsey.
“If we are serious about ending galamsey, we must name and shame every individual involved—whether a chief or a politician. There should be no sacred cows,” he declared.
