CAGG demands retraction, apology from GoldBod CEO over alleged illegal mining remarks

The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (CAGG) has called on the Office of the Attorney-General to investigate the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) over statements it claims encouraged artisanal miners to operate without licences, provided they avoid forest reserves and river bodies.

In a press release dated October 24, 2026, the coalition condemned the reported remarks, describing them as unlawful and reckless, and warning that they could undermine efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

CAGG argued that Ghana's mining laws do not exempt miners from licensing requirements based on the location of their operations.

Citing Section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995 of 2019, the coalition said anyone who undertakes mining without a licence granted by the Minister commits an offence.

It further cited Section 99, arguing that anyone who commands, instigates, employs or facilitates others to engage in illegal mining could face the same penalties as the illegal miner.

According to the coalition, offenders could face fines ranging from GH¢120,000 to GH¢180,000 and imprisonment of between 15 and 25 years, or both.

The coalition therefore wants the GoldBod CEO to immediately retract the alleged statement and issue an unqualified apology to the Ghanaian public.

It has also urged President John Dramani Mahama, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and the Minerals Commission to publicly reaffirm that mining without a licence is illegal, regardless of where the activity takes place.

CAGG further called on the Attorney-General's Office to investigate the matter for possible abetment of illegal mining, insisting that no individual should be exempt from the law.

Beyond the legal implications, the coalition warned that the reported remarks could expose farmers and landowners to encroachment on their lands.

It has consequently called on the Ministry of National Security, the Ghana Police Service and the Ministry of the Interior to strengthen protection for farmers and landowners and establish rapid-response channels for reporting encroachment.

The group is also demanding a clear national plan to protect farmlands, including legal safeguards for agricultural lands, mapping and registration of farms, support for vulnerable farmers seeking to document their land rights, and compensation and restoration for those whose lands have been destroyed.

CAGG said GoldBod was established to formalise and regulate artisanal mining, not to encourage unlicensed operations.

It warned that normalising mining without licences would weaken the regulatory framework intended to distinguish legal small-scale mining from illegal mining.

The coalition comprises civil society organisations, professional associations, environmental advocacy groups and other stakeholders.