Revoke small-scale mining licenses without environmental safeguards – Cadman Atta Mills

Dr Cadman Atta Mills, brother of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, has called for the revocation of all small-scale mining licences that were issued without proper environmental assessments and mitigation plans.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on the back of comments made by the Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Dr Mills argued that what is currently taking place in the country under the banner of “galamsey” is no longer traditional small-scale mining but a full-scale, state-sanctioned assault on the environment.

“What is happening in Ghana today and playing havoc with the environment is not ‘Galamsey’ as traditionally known but legalised organised rape of the environment with equipment (escalators, water pumps, chaftans, etc.) which are totally out of the reach of the traditional galamseyers,” he wrote.

According to him, the term galamsey, originally referring to individuals using rudimentary tools to pan for gold, has been wrongly applied to sophisticated operations run by politically connected individuals.

GALAMSEY IS NOT THE PROBLEM. LEGALIZED SMALL SCALE MINING IS THE CULPRIT.

The Minister of Government Communications has presented the most coherent and accurate tracing of the evolution of destructive “small-scale mining” in Ghana yet. “Galamsey” or informal gold panning has…

— Cadman Atta Mills (@CadmanAttaMills) October 12, 2025

He noted that many of these operators have been granted mining licences without meeting basic legal requirements such as proof of economic discovery, a development plan, or environmental safeguards.

“It stands to reason, therefore, that all licenses for small-scale mining without an environmental assessment and mitigation plans must be revoked,” he stated. His comments come at a time when illegal mining remains one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental and governance challenges.

The government has repeatedly launched anti-galamsey campaigns, but polluted rivers, destroyed farmlands, and devastated forest reserves remain widespread. Dr Mills’s remarks re-echo renewed pressure on the government to distinguish between traditional artisanal miners and large, well-financed operators who use heavy machinery to mine without proper reclamation plans.

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