The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called on chiefs and traditional leaders to take a leading role in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Speaking during his first meeting with the Western Regional House of Chiefs in Sekondi, Armah-Kofi Buah emphasized that his approach is not about replacing small-scale miners aligned with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) with those from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Instead, he reaffirmed his commitment to eliminating illegal mining and protecting the environment.

The Minister revealed that the government plans to involve chiefs in the mining licensing process, recognizing their influence in local communities. He also appealed for their support in ensuring the success of the anti-galamsey campaign.

“As a son of the soil, I have come here to seek your blessings in navigating the ministry and to ask for your utmost support to help us reset this nation for good and for generations yet unborn,” he said.

Armah-Kofi Buah emphasized that the success of efforts to tackle illegal mining and environmental degradation depends on the active participation of chiefs and traditional authorities.

The chiefs commended Armah-Kofi Buah for his engagement and called for a review of the Community Mines initiative. They proposed transforming it into a genuine community-owned model, allowing local communities to take responsibility for preventing the destruction caused by illegal mining.

The Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has taken a firm stance against the undervaluation of public lands, insisting that future transactions must reflect prevailing market rates to safeguard the interests of Ghanaians.

During his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 27, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah criticized the current practice where public lands are sold at only 25% of their market value, with the remainder paid through ground rent.

He described this system as harmful to national development and a loss of vital revenue for the country.

“The guidelines for the sale of public lands, according to the Lands Commission, value them at 25%, and that 25% is what is sold, with the rest paid through ground rent. This practice will no longer continue,” he stated.

“First of all, public lands should not be sold. If there is ever a need to sell, it must be done at the full market value to ensure Ghanaians are not shortchanged.”

Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah pledged to address these challenges, ensuring greater accountability and prioritizing the protection of Ghana’s state-owned assets for the collective benefit of its citizens.