‘Galamsey is Going Down Under Mahama’ – Dormaahene

The President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs and newly sworn-in Justice of the Court of Appeal, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, has commended the Mahama administration for measures that have reduced illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Speaking to journalists at the Jubilee House on Thursday, October 2, 2025, after his swearing-in, the Dormaahene observed that initiatives such as the introduction of blue-uniformed water guards and the reclamation of nine forest reserves from illegal miners have significantly curbed the menace.

“I have been on this stool for almost 26 and a half years. The illegal mining did not start yesterday; it has been with us for some time. If you ask me about my assessment, I will say now, it is going down,” he said.

While acknowledging that galamsey still poses serious environmental threats, Dormaahene called on all Ghanaians to support government efforts to protect the country’s natural resources. He cautioned illegal miners in his Dormaa jurisdiction that they would not be spared if caught, stressing that the land, water bodies, and cocoa farms left by ancestors must not be destroyed.

Meanwhile, President John Mahama is set to meet with civil society organisations (CSOs) at the Jubilee House on Friday, October 3, 2025, to deliberate on long-term strategies to eradicate illegal small-scale mining.

According to a letter signed by Dr Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, the meeting will provide “a platform for frank and constructive dialogue between the Government and civil society on the menace of illegal mining, with a view to harnessing collective expertise, perspectives, and solutions to address this national challenge.”