President John Dramani Mahama has stated that artisanal miners are not enemies of the state and, with proper training and support, they can contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s development.
Speaking during the Ghana Mining in Motion summit at Kempinski Hotel in Accra on June 1, 2025, the president said his government is taking decisive steps to formalize the small-scale mining sector through initiatives such as the Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Program and the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project.
Mr. Mahama explained that several initiatives are currently underway. These initiatives aim to provide legal access to land, training, equipment, and shared infrastructure to small-scale miners.
“We are therefore taking bold steps to formalize the small scale mining sector through initiatives such as the cooperative mining and skills development program, the Ghana landscape restoration and small scale mining project.”
“There are several initiatives underway. This initiatives aim to provide legal access to land, training, equipment, and shared infrastructure.”
As part of the plan, the government is also working to eliminate the use of mercury in mining by promoting environmentally safe alternatives.
“We’ll also eliminate the use of mercury and supporting environmental save alternatives for mining.”
“Let me be clear at this juncture, artisanal miners are not enemies of the state. If properly trained and supported, they can be allies in our development.”
By working closely with the small-scale mining sector, the government hopes to reclaim degraded forest reserves and restore the purity of water bodies. River guards have already begun clearing illegal mining activities from rivers and their banks.
“Working together with the small scale mining sector will reclaim our forest reserved and restore the purity of our waterbodies. Our river guards are working on clearing mining activities in our waterbodies and on the banks of our rivers.”
So far, President Mahama has said illegal miners have been successfully cleared from eight out of the nine “no-go” forest reserves, marking significant progress in the fight to protect Ghana’s environment.
“We have successfully cleared illegal miners out of right (8) out of the nine no go zone forest reserves.”
