Hamza Suhuyini, a member of the NDC’s communications team, has pushed back against claims that the government has failed in its efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, arguing that the problem is too entrenched to be resolved within a year.
His remarks come in the wake of the government’s decision to revoke Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which previously empowered the President to approve mining activities in forest reserves. The revocation, formally titled the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Revocation Instrument, 2025, became law on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, after it was laid before Parliament by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
Suhuyini explained that the repeal of the law forms part of a broader strategy to address illegal mining. However, he emphasized that meaningful progress will require sustained enforcement, strong collaboration among state agencies, and active public support.
According to him, while the government remains committed to tackling galamsey, the depth and scale of the challenge make short-term solutions impractical.
“It would be unfair to expect this government to resolve all illegal mining issues within one year,” he said. “We have demonstrated our commitment in several ways, but given how deeply rooted galamsey is, confronting it effectively will take time, long-term planning, and consistent action.”
