Bolgatanga, Jan. 26, 2026 – Mr Donatus Atanga Akamugri, the Upper East Regional Minister has reaffirmed government’s commitment to clamping down on illegal mining activities in the region, describing the fight against galamsey as critical to protecting water bodies, farmlands and the environment.
Addressing the media, the Minister said government, in collaboration with the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, traditional authorities and the security agencies, had intensified monitoring and enforcement to curb illegal mining in the region.
He said the sustained operations were aimed at promoting responsible and sustainable mining practices while safeguarding livelihoods and natural resources for present and future generations.
As part of the enforcement drive, the Minister disclosed that he personally led a Regional Security Council (REGSEC) operation into the Tilli Forest along the Red Volta and later to the Naaga Forest, which led to the arrest of 70 illegal miners.
According to him, the suspects included foreign nationals from Togo and Burkina Faso.
Mining equipment were seized, and all those arrested had been arraigned before the Circuit Court and were currently facing prosecution.
The Minister said the decisive action sent a clear signal that illegal mining would not be tolerated in the Upper East Region.
He noted that beyond enforcement, government was also using dialogue to address mining-related tensions, particularly in areas where disputes had arisen between small-scale miners and large-scale mining companies.
In his capacity as Chairman of REGSEC, the Minister said he led several mediation efforts in the Talensi District to resolve mining rights-related disputes, which had helped ease tensions, restore dialogue and improve cooperation among stakeholders.
He acknowledged, however, that some underlying issues persisted and would require sustained engagement to achieve lasting resolution.
The Regional Minister further indicated that while government was determined to eliminate illegal mining, it was equally committed to creating lawful and sustainable mining opportunities for local people, especially the youth.
He indicated that 10 out of the 15 Municipal and District Assemblies in the region had gold deposits and repositioning the region as a mining hub in Northern Ghana.
As result, he said, the Regional Coordinating Council, in collaboration with the Minerals Commission, had submitted a list of mining communities to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for engagement with concession holders to release portions of their concessions for youth participation under the Corporate Mining Scheme.
The beneficiary communities, he said, include Teshie, Sapeliga, Santeng, Tarkwa, Bongo, Kadema, Naaga, Bechisi and Nabdam.
“These interventions demonstrate government’s firm resolve to curb illegal mining while promoting responsible mining and creating sustainable livelihoods for our young people,” the Minister added.