Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, emphasized that the fight against illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, should be seen as an ongoing, long-term responsibility, rather than a short-term campaign with fixed deadlines. In an appearance on Face to Face on Channel One TV on Tuesday, April 8, Kwakye Ofosu argued that it is unrealistic to expect a complete cessation of illegal mining activities, as there will always be individuals seeking to exploit natural resources unlawfully.
“First of all, I’m not sure that a timeline is necessarily the conversation we should be having. I think it should be a lifelong activity,” he said. His comments come amid ongoing pressure on the government to produce measurable results in the fight against galamsey, which has caused severe damage to water bodies, farmlands, and forest reserves across the country.
However, Kwakye Ofosu emphasized that the state must be ready to act decisively and consistently whenever illegal mining is carried out. “Every time that somebody plans to do galamsey and actually starts doing it, it is the duty of the state to fight it,” he stressed. He underscored the importance of sustained vigilance and accountability, pointing out that what the public expects is not promises but visible action.
“What matters is that people see demonstrable commitment to fighting it—such that today, if you’re engaged in galamsey, or I am doing galamsey, we would be stopped by the government and action would be taken against us. “I think that is what people want, rather than limiting yourself to say in two months, ‘I will stop galamsey,’” Kwakye Ofosu added.
By: Kobina Welsing
