The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, paid a significant courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Friday, February 14, 2025, to seek the monarch’s support for the government’s ongoing efforts to tackle the illegal mining (galamsey) crisis and to reform the country’s mining and forest sectors. The visit was aimed at gaining Otumfuo’s blessings for various initiatives under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
During the visit, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah stressed the critical importance of Otumfuo’s guidance in the ongoing reform process. He expressed admiration for Otumfuo’s exemplary leadership, noting the absence of land-related disputes in the Ashanti Region, which stands as a testament to his leadership in land administration. The Minister also sought Otumfuo’s wisdom and support as they strive to transform the land sector through innovative projects and programs.
A key point of discussion was the issue of galamsey, which has wreaked havoc on the country’s forests and water bodies. Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah revealed that 44 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves have been severely impacted by illegal mining activities, resulting in the significant degradation of natural resources. The Minister also highlighted the devastating effect on water bodies, with turbidity levels rising dramatically from 5,000 NTU to 12,000 NTU.
Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah outlined several urgent measures the government is implementing to curb the galamsey menace, including the establishment of an 18-member committee of experts to review the mining licensing regime and the reclassification of mining categories. Additionally, the government is overhauling the Community Mining Scheme as part of a comprehensive effort to reform the sector.
In response, Otumfuo expressed his full support for the government’s “reset agenda” and commended the Lands Minister for the bold steps being taken. However, Otumfuo urged the Minister to tackle the root causes of galamsey, particularly the issue of youth unemployment. He emphasized that providing meaningful, sustainable livelihoods for young people in mining communities would significantly reduce their involvement in illegal mining.
Otumfuo also called for a more focused approach to apprehending and prosecuting the “big fish” behind the galamsey trade, rather than focusing solely on the youth who turn to mining for survival. The Asantehene advised the government to develop comprehensive livelihood programs for these communities to discourage illegal mining.
On the matter of public lands, Otumfuo advised the Minister to put an end to the indiscriminate sale of public lands, especially to public officials, under his tenure. He also praised the government’s aggressive afforestation efforts and pledged his full support for the Tree for Life initiative, a key project aimed at increasing Ghana’s forest cover.
The visit concluded with Otumfuo reaffirming his confidence in Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah’s ability to lead the Ministry effectively and urging his colleagues in the Ministry to lend their full support to the Minister’s initiatives.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, also thanked Otumfuo for his continued support and advice. He assured that the government, working with other stakeholders, would address the galamsey challenge head-on.
Earlier in the day, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah joined the Ministers of Interior, Defense, and the Ashanti Regional Minister for a tour of the Afari Military Hospital, a project that had been initiated by the previous government in 2014 but was stalled during the current administration.
