The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has defended the government’s approach to formalising artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), insisting that unlicensed mining activities that do not harm water bodies, forest reserves or public safety should be considered for formalisation rather than being subjected solely to military enforcement.
Mr Gyamfi said there are three forms of unlicensed artisanal and small-scale mining that could neither be tolerated nor reformed, stressing that activities that threaten the environment and public health must be distinguished from those that can be brought under a regulated mining system.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, he identified the three unacceptable practices as mining that affects water bodies, mining within forest reserves, and mining in inappropriate locations within communities, including roadsides, school lands and bedrooms, where such activities pose risks to society and public health.
He argued that unlicensed mining operations outside these prohibited or dangerous locations could be assessed for formalisation under the government’s Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP).
According to the GoldBod CEO, mineralised areas where artisanal and small-scale miners operate without licences could qualify for formalisation if their activities do not negatively affect water bodies, forest reserves or public safety.
He maintained that bringing eligible miners into the formal economy through licensing, training and regulatory oversight would be a more effective approach than relying exclusively on military operations to pursue them.
“I maintain that formalizing such unlicensed ASMs is a better approach than chasing them with soldiers,” he stated.
The rCOMSDEP is intended to transform unlicensed artisanal and small-scale miners into licensed and responsible operators through a structured system of cooperative mining.
Mr Gyamfi said the programme is designed to provide the necessary support to help eligible miners obtain the appropriate legal documentation, certifications and permits, while equipping them with the skills required to conduct mining activities responsibly.
He explained that formalisation should not be interpreted as an endorsement of all illegal mining activities, particularly those that destroy water bodies, encroach on forest reserves or endanger communities.
Rather, he argued, the process should identify operations that can be brought under the law and supported to adopt environmentally responsible mining practices.
Mr Gyamfi also addressed a video circulating on social media, which he said has been selectively edited to exclude important aspects of his explanation of the government’s position on unlicensed small-scale mining.
According to him, the portion being circulated did not capture the full details of the proposed support for formalising eligible miners and ensuring that they operate with the required legal authorisation and technical training.
He maintained that the omitted context is important to understanding the government’s approach, which seeks to distinguish between mining activities that must be stopped and those that could be regularised under an appropriate regulatory framework.
The GoldBod CEO’s clarification places emphasis on formalisation as a tool for addressing illegal mining, rather than treating every unlicensed operation as requiring the same enforcement response.
Mr Gyamfi further described formalisation and traceability as a new direction in Ghana’s efforts to promote sustainability in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.
He said providing formalisation opportunities, training and financing support to miners whose activities do not damage water bodies, forest reserves or communities would help bring them into the regulated mining economy.
According to him, this approach could strengthen efforts to combat irresponsible mining while creating opportunities for miners to operate within established legal and environmental standards.
The proposed strategy also seeks to improve accountability within the gold supply chain by ensuring that mining activities and the minerals produced can be traced through formal channels.
Formalisation, he suggested, should therefore serve both as a regulatory mechanism and as an economic opportunity for miners willing to comply with the law.
Mr Gyamfi also announced plans for GoldBod to introduce an ASM Formalisation and Financing Support Programme (FFSP) in 2027.
He said the initiative would be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), and Rand Refinery.
The programme is expected to support efforts to increase gold production and mineral revenue, create jobs, reduce operational costs and minimise environmental risks associated with small-scale mining.
The planned intervention reflects GoldBod’s stated intention to combine formalisation with access to financing, technical expertise and training to improve productivity and encourage responsible mining practices.
Mr Gyamfi said the programme would help address some of the operational challenges confronting small-scale miners while supporting a more sustainable and commercially viable sector.
The GoldBod CEO reiterated his position on mining regulation in remarks delivered at the recently concluded Mining in Motion summit, where he addressed the theme of artisanal and small-scale mining formalisation as a new paradigm.
He argued that mining regulations must be firm but also practical, inclusive and commercially sound if reforms are to produce lasting results.
“Reform will endure only when compliance becomes a pathway to opportunity rather than hardships,” he said.
He added that regulations should go beyond policing miners to include formalisation, capacity building and the creation of economic opportunities for young Africans involved in mining and mineral trading.
Mr Gyamfi maintained that, with appropriate formalisation, financing and training, artisanal and small-scale mining could support livelihoods, generate foreign exchange, strengthen Ghana’s reserves, expand indigenous businesses and contribute to national development.
He also highlighted the potential of properly organised small-scale mining to increase local participation in the country’s mineral economy.
“We at the GoldBod hold the view, that properly organized small-scale mining offers one of the clearest pathways from mineral ownership in law to indigenous ownership in practice,” he stated.
He said the adoption of modern technology and sound engineering practices could improve mineral recovery rates, reduce waste, enhance workplace safety and minimise environmental damage while creating productive employment opportunities for young people.
Mr Gyamfi’s position underscores the proposed balance between enforcing mining laws and creating opportunities for eligible artisanal and small-scale miners to enter the formal economy.
While he maintains that mining in water bodies, forest reserves and dangerous locations must not be tolerated, he argues that operations outside those categories should be assessed for possible formalisation under the appropriate legal and regulatory requirements.
The proposed approach places licensing, technical training, financing, traceability and environmental responsibility at the centre of efforts to reform the sector.
The planned ASM Formalisation and Financing Support Programme is expected to advance that objective when it is rolled out in 2027, although its implementation details and eligibility requirements will be important in determining how the initiative translates into practical support for miners.
Ghana continues to face the challenge of curbing environmentally destructive mining while ensuring that small-scale mining contributes to livelihoods, employment and national revenue.
The effectiveness of the proposed strategy will depend on how consistently the authorities enforce environmental restrictions, regulate participating miners and ensure that formalisation does not provide a route for prohibited mining activities to continue.
By 1960news.com
