President John Dramani Mahama has announced the Cabinet’s approval of the Public Tribunals Bill, a legislative measure designed to fast-track the adjudication of illegal mining (galamsey) offences nationwide. The Bill, he explained, forms part of a broader strategy to intensify the fight against environmental degradation and reaffirm the government’s commitment to sustainable resource governance.
Addressing members of the Christian Council during a meeting at Jubilee House on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, President Mahama stated that the proposed law would empower specially designated public tribunals to handle cases related to galamsey. This, he noted, would alleviate the burden on the conventional court system and facilitate swifter, more efficient delivery of justice.
According to President Mahama, the measure forms part of the government’s broader efforts to curb environmental destruction and protect Ghana’s forests and water bodies from the harmful effects of illegal mining. What the Cabinet did was to pass the Public Tribunals Bill so that we will push issues related to illegal mining to the public tribunals. They will adjudicate faster and ensure that justice is seen to be done,” he explained. “If this comes into effect, we will be able to process cases against illegal mining even quicker,” he added
Source: William Narh
