Omanghana
Environmental advocate Elizabeth Vaah has sharply criticized GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi’s proposal to bring eligible unlicensed small-scale miners into a regulated system, questioning whether the approach would adequately protect communities from mining-related destruction.
Vaah, who leads the Ghana Environmental Advocacy Group, described the position as “lazy and stupid” in a public post. She raised concerns about the protection of private farms, burial grounds and local livelihoods, arguing that formalisation must address the harm communities face from illegal mining.
Her criticism adds to a widening debate over how Ghana should tackle galamsey while creating a lawful pathway for small-scale mining operators.
Gyamfi has defended formalisation as a more effective long-term approach than relying on military operations to pursue unlicensed miners. He maintains that the proposal applies only to eligible operators working outside forest reserves, water bodies and other environmentally sensitive areas.
According to the GoldBod chief, an edited video misrepresented his original remarks. He said his position concerned a controlled transition into licensed and regulated mining, rather than permission for illegal activities to continue.
He linked the proposed approach to the government’s Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme and an Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Formalisation and Financing Support Programme planned for 2027.
However, critics remain concerned about how his comments could be interpreted by miners operating without authorisation.
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey has demanded a retraction and apology and called on the Attorney-General to investigate the remarks. The coalition argues that mining outside protected areas does not remove the obligation to obtain the required licences.
Former Environmental Protection Agency Chief Executive Dr John Kingsley Krugu also described the comments as “dangerous and troubling,” warning that they could be understood as encouragement to mine without official approval.
The controversy has drawn political reaction, with Parliamentary Minority leaders calling for Gyamfi’s dismissal over remarks they consider reckless.
GoldBod Public Relations Officer Prince Kwame Minkah has reiterated that entry into the proposed formalisation process would be conditional. He maintains that the initiative would not provide a blanket amnesty for illegal mining operations.
The disagreement centres on whether formalisation can bring unlicensed operators under effective supervision while maintaining enforcement and protecting affected communities. For critics such as Vaah, safeguards for land, water resources and livelihoods remain essential to any proposed solution.
Source: Omanghana
