The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (CAGG) has asked Ghana’s Attorney-General to investigate whether comments attributed to Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi amount to encouraging illegal mining.
In a press release dated 24 October 2026, the coalition said it was “gravely concerned” by statements in which artisanal miners were allegedly told they could mine without a licence provided they stayed away from forest reserves and river bodies.
CAGG described the remarks as “unlawful, reckless” and a “betrayal of the fight against galamsey”. It said the position failed to take account of wider land-use planning and the need to protect farmland and food production.
The coalition also warned that the comments could contribute to communal arms conflicts.
It cited Section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995 of 2019, arguing that Ghanaian law makes no exception to the licensing requirement. Mining outside forest reserves and river bodies, it said, was not automatically legal.
CAGG said Section 99 of Act 995 also applied to anyone who commanded, instigated, employed or facilitated illegal mining. Such a person, it added, could face the same punishment as the miner: a fine of 10,000 to 15,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000 to GH¢180,000, and imprisonment of 15 to 25 years.
The coalition said a public officer who urged people to mine without a licence would not merely be offering advice, but could be instigating a criminal offence.
Coalition sets out demands
CAGG called on Mr Gyamfi to withdraw the statement and issue an unqualified apology.
It also urged the President, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission to publicly restate that mining is unlawful without a licence, regardless of where it takes place. The coalition asked the Attorney-General to investigate the matter under Section 99 of Act 995.
The Ministry of National Security, Ghana Police Service and Ministry of the Interior were asked to protect farmers and landowners from possible invasions and create rapid-response channels through which encroachment could be reported.
CAGG further proposed a national farmland protection plan. Its demands included legal safeguards, designated no-go mining zones, the mapping and registration of farmland, and compensation and remediation for farmers affected by mining.
GoldBod rejects allegation
GoldBod has denied that Mr Gyamfi endorsed illegal mining, saying a video circulating online had been selectively edited.
In a statement issued on 24 October, the organisation said government policy was to move eligible informal miners into a licensed and regulated system, rather than legitimise illegal operations.
In a post on X on 23 October, Mr Gyamfi said mining in water bodies, forest reserves and locations such as roadsides and school lands could not be tolerated.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has separately called for Mr Gyamfi to resign or be dismissed.
The CAGG statement was signed by Convenor Kenneth Ashigbey and members Awula Serwah, Bismark Owusu Nortey and Daryl Bosu. The coalition’s listed organisations include A Rocha Ghana, EcoConscious Citizens and the Africa Centre for Energy Policy.
