The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for stricter enforcement of laws against illegal mining, warning that individuals responsible for environmental destruction and water pollution must be held accountable.

She described the continued degradation of water bodies and land through illegal mining as unacceptable, stressing the need for urgent intervention by relevant state institutions to halt the practice.

Speaking during a field visit on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said stronger enforcement was necessary to prevent illegal miners from continuing their activities despite ongoing efforts to reclaim and restore degraded lands.

“You have people causing this level of devastation, poisoning our waters, destroying the environment, and they’re just constantly getting away. We need to really clamp down on the enforcement side of things,” she said.

The minister disclosed that she had received a briefing from the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on challenges encountered by the authority and its personnel during field operations.

She also drew attention to the resources being invested in reclaiming lands damaged by mining, cautioning that such efforts could be undermined if those responsible for environmental destruction were allowed to operate without consequences.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings insisted that Ghanaians engaged in mining must comply with the same environmental standards expected of foreign investors, emphasising that the law must apply equally to everyone.

“If, as a country, we expect this of foreigners when they come and mine in our country, we must put ourselves to the same standard. No one must be exempt. No one is above the law,” she stressed.

The minister said she would engage the EPA chief executive and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to discuss the challenges, while also seeking the involvement of national security officials to address continued encroachment and illegal mining in areas designated for reclamation.

She called for immediate measures to protect affected areas, warning that the government’s efforts to restore degraded lands would be ineffective if illegal mining activities were allowed to persist.

Her comments add to growing calls for stronger enforcement and accountability in the fight against illegal mining, particularly over its impact on Ghana’s water bodies, land resources and environmental sustainability.