The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) has taken a bold step in the fight against illegal mining by convening key stakeholders for a national dialogue on the issue.
Leaders from government, academia, civil society, and the mining industry made strong calls for coordinated action, policy reform, and sustainable alternatives to eradicate the galamsey menace.
The city of Sunyani became the centre of dialogue and action as the University of Energy and Natural Resources hosted the 4th Transformational Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining under the theme “Eliminating Illegal Mining in Ghana: The Word and the Bill.”
In his keynote address, UENR Vice Chancellor, Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, warned that illegal mining remains a major threat to sustainable development and called for political will and an enabling legislative framework to address it.
“President John Dramani Mahama, within three months, has already taken bold steps to confront illegal mining. We at UENR are ready to support national efforts through research and innovation.”
The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Akwaboah, who was the guest of honour, described the galamsey menace as both an environmental and moral crisis.
“I hear the cries of the unborn generation appealing to us to preserve their natural resources. We must act now.”
Policy analyst Dr. Steve Manteaw added another dimension, calling for a shift from military-led crackdowns to incentive-based regulation.
“Without enforcement at the community level, the system fails. We need to decentralise mining regulation and offer real support to legal operators.”
Meanwhile, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, President of the Small-Scale Miners Association, urged the nation to understand that illegal mining is fundamentally a livelihood issue.
“This is a bread-and-butter issue. If we don’t provide jobs, young people will keep returning to the land.”
The UENR dialogue is expected to inform future mining policies and push for more inclusive, community-focused strategies to combat illegal mining.
By Peter Quao Adattor
