"All Galamsey Lands Should Be Seized" - Kofi Bentil
Private legal practitioner, Kofi Bentil, has called for a ban on the importation of excavators as part of measures to curb illegal small-scale mining (galamsey). According to him, anyone who requires one should first obtain a license.
Mr. Bentil further proposed that all lands on which galamsey is carried out be seized by the state, stressing that chiefs who permit such activities on their lands should automatically forfeit ownership.
“Ban all imports of excavators! Anyone who needs one must get a license. Seize all lands on which galamsey is done! Forfeit to the state, so any chief who allows galamsey loses that land!” he stated on his Facebook page.
Speaking on TV3’s Key Points programme on Saturday, August 16, Mr. Bentil argued that the fight against galamsey is not genuine, noting that some military and police officers, as well as local government officials, are complicit in the menace.
“We are pretending to be fighting galamsey. There are allegations that some police personnel, military officers, and MMDCEs are complicit in galamsey activities,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Professor Ransford Gyampo, also underscored the need for stronger action. He warned that the country risks total destruction if illegal mining is not decisively tackled.
“Enough is enough, it’s either we destroy galamsey or it destroys us. We need to step up our efforts in fighting this menace,” Prof. Gyampo said.
The Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) has also weighed in, linking the recent helicopter crash tragedy to the urgent need for bold, apolitical steps against illegal mining.
In a statement, ISODEC described galamsey as an existential threat to present and future generations, citing environmental devastation, destruction of water bodies, health hazards, and biodiversity loss as consequences of the practice.
“As we reflect on the lives lost in this unfortunate accident, we are reminded of the urgent responsibility that rests on our government to safeguard our precious resources and the well-being of our citizens,” the organisation said.
ISODEC called on government to declare a state of emergency on mining, repeal Act LI 2462, enforce laws on forest and waterbody protection, and ruthlessly deal with kingpins in illegal mining. It further urged the confiscation of illicit proceeds and the implementation of sustainable community mining programmes that balance economic benefits with environmental protection.
“Together, we can work towards restoring balance in our ecosystem whilst fostering prosperity for all Ghanaians. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this tragedy,” the statement concluded.
