Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, the Presidential Candidate for the Alliance for Revolutionary Change, has reaffirmed his commitment to fighting illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, by advocating for life imprisonment for offenders.

He also proposed a sweeping one-year ban on all forms of small-scale and community mining, whether legal or illegal, as part of a robust strategy to tackle the issue.

The proposed measures aim to restore Ghana’s damaged river bodies and forest reserves, which have been severely affected by illegal mining activities.

Speaking at an Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) forum in Accra on October 1, Mr. Kyerematen explained his plan, stating, "Impose a complete ban for one year on small-scale and community mining, whether legal or illegal.

Within one year, we can clean all our river bodies."

He emphasized the need for new legislation and regulations, proposing life imprisonment for those who violate laws protecting river bodies and forest reserves.

According to Mr. Kyerematen, the current penalties are not severe enough to deter offenders, given the financial gains associated with galamsey.

"If it's just a 10-year sentence, the money they make from galamsey will make that punishment insufficient. They’ll serve the time, come back, and continue," he noted.

He urged the nation to adopt a firm stance on illegal mining, stating, "We have to be serious about how we deal with galamsey."