A new National Democratic Congress (NDC) government will establish a Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) tasked with regulating small-scale mining in the country, former president John Mahama has announced.
In his speech at the party’s 2024 manifesto launch on Saturday, August 24, the NDC flagbearer outlined several steps his next government would take to tackle the ‘galamsey’ menace, as detailed in the manifesto.
According to him, his government will ban the issuance of new mining leases and prohibit mining activities in forest reserves.
To further protect water bodies, Mahama stated that the Minerals and Mining Law will be amended to impose stiffer punishments on those found mining illegally in these areas.
He added that the regulatory and licensing processes for artisanal miners will be decentralized to enhance accessibility and efficiency.
The former President added that mining cooperatives will be established in all mining districts to better organize and support small-scale miners, with the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) set up to regulate mining operations nationwide.
As part of environmental conservation efforts, a ‘Tree for Life’ reforestation policy will be implemented, focusing on the cultivation of cocoa, palm, and rubber, according to the manifesto.
The next NDC government also intends to launch a Blue Water Initiative aimed at rehabilitating areas and water bodies degraded by illegal mining, transforming them into hubs for economic and ecological recovery.
