Galamsey: 7 in 10 small-scale miners operate illegally – Dr Theo Acheampong

Dr. Theo Acheampong, a Mineral and Natural Resources Economist, revealed that 70% of small-scale miners in Ghana operate without valid licenses, making their activities illegal.

On JoyNews' Newsfile, he highlighted that unregulated mining significantly contributes to environmental degradation, exacerbating the galamsey crisis.

He called for urgent reforms in the industry, emphasizing the need for stronger regulatory oversight and monitoring systems.

Dr. Acheampong urged the government to address root causes like poverty and unemployment that drive illegal mining and to improve public awareness of legal mining requirements.

He noted that small-scale miners account for about 40% of Ghana’s gold output.