The Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, (MLGCRA) Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has charged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country to lead decisive local action in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. Delivering a speech on behalf of the Minister, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), at the Sustainable Mining Ecosystem Conference and Exhibition (ECOSUM CONFEX 2025), Hon. Sowah described the Assemblies as the first line of defence against environmental destruction and called on them to take bold steps to protect Ghana’s rivers, forests, and farmlands.
The two-day conference, held from 29th to 30th July 2025 at the National Theatre in Accra, was themed “Restoring the Blue Waters and Green Environment Initiative for a Sustainable Ecosystem – The Role of Multi-Stakeholders and Leadership”. It brought together key players from government, traditional leadership, civil society, and the mining sector to deliberate on the restoration of ecosystems severely affected by unregulated mining practices.
In her address, the Deputy Minister urged Assemblies to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance into their core operations, particularly in permitting, inspections, and community monitoring. She further advised MMDAs to strictly enforce land use regulations to prevent mining near water bodies, sacred groves, and protected forests. Environmental taskforces, including the Blue Water Guards, she added, must be strengthened and well-resourced to clamp down on illegal mining hotspots.
Calling illegal mining a “socio-cultural and governance emergency,” the Deputy Minister warned of its far-reaching consequences; contaminated rivers, degraded ancestral lands, reduced agricultural productivity, and heightened insecurity. She called for fearless enforcement of anti-galamsey by-laws by MMDAs, while urging traditional authorities to withhold land from unlicensed miners and promote communal vigilance.
To address the root causes of galamsey, Hon. Sowah announced that the Ministry is collaborating with sector ministries and private partners to introduce youth-focused training programmes in agribusiness, green construction, and eco-tourism. The initiative aims to offer sustainable livelihoods to young people in mining areas and discourage their involvement in illegal mining. She noted that traditional and faith-based institutions are also being engaged to provide moral guidance and mentorship.
The Deputy Minister underscored the crucial role of traditional and religious leaders, describing them as “pillars of moral authority and cultural custodians.” She encouraged them to champion ESG principles, safeguard sacred natural sites, and facilitate productive dialogue between Assemblies and communities.
She concluded by reminding stakeholders that the path to a sustainable mining ecosystem begins at the community level. “The restoration of the blue waters and green environment will not be achieved solely through policies crafted at the center, but by the decisions taken in our communities,” she said. Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah expressed confidence that the ECOSUM CONFEX 2025 will spark the partnerships and momentum needed to secure a greener and more resilient Ghana for future generations.