President John Dramani Mahama has announced a firm crackdown on unauthorized task forces operating under the guise of fighting illegal mining (galamsey) in Ghana.
Addressing the Council of State and key stakeholders on July 7, 2025, the President condemned the actions of certain groups who have taken advantage of the government’s anti-galamsey efforts to harass and extort licensed small-scale miners.
“Illegal mining is a very complex challenge,” President Mahama said. “Just this morning, I summoned all stakeholders involved in the anti-galamsey campaign to streamline their operations. The problem is that everyone is acting independently without coordination, which has led to the rise of unauthorized task forces.”
His remarks follow public complaints by the Ashanti Regional Chapter of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners, which accused some task forces of operating without legal authority while disrupting legitimate mining businesses.
President Mahama emphasized that his administration is taking urgent steps to restore law and order in the mining sector.
“We had a very productive meeting, and going forward, our approach will be better coordinated,” he added.
As part of renewed efforts, the President is expected to inaugurate a new Goldbod Task Force in Accra today. According to Goldbod, the unit will specifically target illegal gold trading and work to stabilize prices in Ghana’s gold market.
What This Means for the Mining Sector
The crackdown on unauthorized task forces is expected to bring relief to many licensed small-scale miners who have suffered from harassment, unlawful arrests, and extortion. It also signals the government’s renewed commitment to regulating the industry while safeguarding its economic contribution.
This development comes at a time when illegal mining continues to pose major environmental, economic, and social challenges across various regions of Ghana.