Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, requires more than routine interventions, says Deputy Interior Minister Ebenezer Terlarbi.
Ghana risks losing the long-running fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, unless bold, innovative strategies are adopted, Deputy Interior Minister Ebenezer Terlarbi has cautioned.
Speaking on Joy FM’s PM Express and sighted by Accra Street Journal, Terlarbi offered a blunt assessment of current efforts, stressing that conventional methods are no longer enough to tackle the complex and evolving threat, particularly where foreign nationals are involved. In his view, if we don’t take care, we might even lose the fight again, emphasizing the need for innovative and practical solutions.
“In fact, if we don’t take care, we are going to lose this fight again,” he said. “The situation on hand, we cannot do things the same way and think we’ll have different results. We need to be a little innovative.”
His remarks come in the wake of a controversial directive from Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak, who has instructed the Inspector General of Police to transfer all regional, divisional, and district commanders in mining zones. Terlarbi defended the move as a necessary shake-up but emphasized that it must be part of a broader reform agenda if it’s to yield real results.
One of the most debated aspects of the government‘s new approach is the decision to deport, rather than prosecute, foreign nationals caught engaging in illegal mining. Minister Mubarak recently stated that the government has already repatriated 107 foreign nationals involved in galamsey and other fraudulent activities since he assumed office. The decision to deport, he emphasized, is a firm step in the country’s zero-tolerance policy toward illegal mining.
Terlarbi acknowledged the criticism surrounding the policy but argued that practical constraints often make deportation the only viable option. “We know how frustrating litigation can be in this country,” he said. “You arrest foreigners and they say, ‘Take me to court.’ They have lawyers, which is their right. But many claim they don’t have passports, and their identities become difficult to establish.”
The Deputy Minister also pointed to systemic challenges, from overcrowded prisons to logistical hurdles in transporting suspects. “You arrest about 80 Chinese nationals, where do you keep them? Even finding vehicles to take them to court is a problem. Then they get bail, and what next?”
He admitted the policy may appear to reflect a double standard, as Ghanaians caught in similar offences face prosecution, but stressed the urgency of focusing on what is currently achievable within the system.
Last Updated on April 10, 2025 by samboad
