By Mavis Paintsil, and Josephine Tetteh Accra
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has categorically denied reports suggesting that the country needs $10 billion to combat illegal mining, describing the figure as “grossly misleading.”
According to Paa Kwesi Schandorf, the ministry’s spokesperson, the sector minister never quoted such a figure during his recent media appearance.
Schandorf explained that the reports misrepresented the minister’s comments, stating that if the financial implications of addressing environmental issues were quantified, even the country’s entire budget may not be sufficient.
“The minister did not say we needed $10 billion,” Schandorf emphasized.
The ministry has revealed that over 5,500 hectares of land, equivalent to about 7,500 football pitches, have been destroyed by illegal mining activities across the country.
Reclaiming just one hectare of land could cost about $38,000, placing the total reclamation bill in the millions of dollars.
Schandorf noted that reclaiming the land alone will run into millions of dollars, excluding costs for treating polluted water bodies and deploying necessary enforcement infrastructure.
The ministry plans to deploy over 1,000 trained military personnel to monitor all 44 forest reserves affected by galamsey permanently.
An official financial estimate of Ghana’s cost of fighting illegal mining is expected to be published by the end of the week.
Schandorf reiterated that while costs are significant, they are in millions—not billions—of dollars.
The ministry has also engaged with the Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association, which has formed its own task force to clamp down on illegal miners.
While acknowledging their initiative, Schandorf emphasized that all enforcement must be coordinated under the National Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NaIMOS).
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