The President of the Small-Scale Miners Association, Michael Kojo Peprah, has issued a strong warning that he will soon publish a list of politicians and prominent individuals allegedly engaged in illegal mining, widely known in Ghana as galamsey.
According to him, many of the people loudly condemning government efforts and calling for a state of emergency to address the menace are, in fact, themselves complicit.
Speaking to Kwesi Parker Wilson on Oyerepa Breakfast Time on October 7, 2025, Mr. Peprah alleged that some powerful figures — including individuals vying to become flagbearers of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) — have been allocated forest reserves for mining activities.
“There are people who were given licenses and went into the forest to mine. There are people in the NPP who want to become flagbearers of the party who were also given forest reserves to mine in,” he claimed. “At the right time, we will bring out their names. Those calling for a state of emergency should be careful — we will release the list.”
Mr. Peprah further alleged that some of the very personalities frequently appearing on television to demand government action against illegal mining are active participants in the practice.
“Those who sit on TV and call for a state of emergency — at the right time, we will bring out the list of areas where they are doing galamsey. They are all part of it, and we will expose them to the public,” he added.
Illegal mining remains a major national concern, with extensive destruction of farmlands, forests, and water bodies across several regions. The problem has persisted despite intensified government crackdowns and environmental protection campaigns.
