At No Point Did President Mahama The NDC Or I Promise To Ban Small Scale If We Were Voted Into Power

Sammy Gyamfi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, has firmly stated that neither President John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress, nor he himself ever promised to ban small-scale mining if the party won power.UTV interview; GoldBod statements (30 October 2026); NDC 2024 manifesto; earlier Gyamfi remarks reported by GhanaWeb, AdomOnline, and 3News.

Speaking on UTV, Gyamfi said: “At no point did President Mahama, the NDC, or I promise to ban small-scale mining if we were voted into power.”

The comments come amid ongoing debate over the government’s approach to artisanal and small-scale mining, popularly linked to the fight against illegal operations known as galamsey. A video from a March 2026 engagement with miners at KNUST had circulated widely, prompting criticism and calls from the Minority in Parliament for Gyamfi’s removal. Critics argued the remarks appeared to soften the stance on unlicensed mining.

Gyamfi and GoldBod have consistently clarified that the government rejects a total ban. Instead, the focus is on formalising eligible operators whose activities stay clear of water bodies, forest reserves, and sensitive community sites such as roadsides or school lands. These “red zones,” he has stressed, remain strictly off-limits and cannot be tolerated or reformed. Formalisation under programmes such as the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme is presented as a more practical path than relying solely on military operations.

This position aligns with the NDC’s 2024 manifesto and campaign messaging. The party pledged to ban new mining in forest reserves, impose tougher penalties for mining in water bodies, decentralise licensing, and establish the Ghana Gold Board to restructure the sector through training, equipment support, and reclamation requirements. Campaigners repeatedly told miners that responsible small-scale mining would be supported rather than outlawed, distinguishing it from destructive illegal practices.

Earlier in 2025, Gyamfi had already rejected calls for a nationwide ban, arguing it would harm legitimate operators and fail to end illegal activity, as previous attempts had shown. The current administration continues to emphasise regulation, licensing pathways, and environmental safeguards over a blanket prohibition.

Galamsey remains a deeply polarising issue because of its impact on rivers, forests, and farmland. Gyamfi’s latest remarks restate a consistent line from the NDC side: small-scale mining itself is not the enemy—unregulated, destructive mining is.

The government maintains it is pursuing formalisation for those who can operate responsibly while enforcing hard limits where the environment and public safety are at risk.

@EbenezerNewsGH [email protected]