Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Samuel Nartey George has questioned why he is being held responsible for Ghana’s illegal mining crisis, commonly known as galamsey.
The minister’s comments come amid renewed public debate over the government’s efforts to tackle illegal mining and the destruction of water bodies and forest reserves.
Sam George argued that responsibility for the galamsey menace should not be placed on individuals whose official duties do not directly cover the regulation and enforcement of mining activities.
He has previously called for a broader approach to tackling illegal mining, pointing to the roles of political figures, traditional authorities and other actors who may enable the practice.
In May 2021, he backed social media commentator Twene Jonas’s criticism of chiefs allegedly involved in illegal mining, arguing that those responsible for protecting land and water bodies should also be held accountable.
The galamsey crisis remains a major environmental concern in Ghana, with illegal mining contributing to the pollution of rivers, destruction of forest reserves and threats to livelihoods that depend on clean water.
Successive governments have faced pressure to strengthen enforcement and prosecute individuals involved in illegal mining, including influential people accused of supporting the activity.
The debate has also centred on whether the fight should be treated as a shared national responsibility, requiring cooperation among government agencies, traditional leaders, political parties and local communities.
