The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has become a major topic of discussion on social media following his comments on illegal mining, which have triggered calls for his dismissal.

The controversy began after a video circulated online in which Gyamfi suggested that some unlicensed small-scale miners should be helped to obtain licences rather than being chased away by soldiers.

His remarks have sparked mixed reactions, with critics questioning whether the approach could weaken the government's fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The issue has also attracted political attention, with the Minority in Parliament calling on President John Dramani Mahama to remove Gyamfi from his position as GoldBod CEO.

However, Gyamfi has defended his comments, insisting that he was not advocating for illegal mining to be allowed.

He explained that miners operating outside water bodies, forest reserves and other dangerous locations should be supported to obtain licences and receive training to operate legally.

'I bought my first private jet before age 23, owned 27 cars' – Aliko Dangote reveals

“I maintain that formalizing such unlicensed ASMs is a better approach than chasing them with soldiers,” he stated.

Gyamfi also accused those circulating the video of omitting important parts of his explanation, thereby creating what he described as a misleading impression of his position.

He stressed that mining in water bodies, forest reserves and dangerous locations, including roadsides, school lands and residential areas, must not be tolerated.

The controversy has also drawn reactions from civil society organisations, which argue that mining without a licence remains illegal, regardless of where it takes place.

Meanwhile, the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners has defended Gyamfi, maintaining that his comments were intended to encourage responsible mining rather than support illegal activities.

Tougher times ahead for global economy despite steady growth – IMF

The growing debate has placed the GoldBod CEO in the spotlight, raising fresh questions about how Ghana can bring unlicensed miners into the legal mining sector without undermining efforts to combat galamsey.

You can now mine without a license provided it isn’t near a water body or a road side
Sammy Gyamfi

Reset indeed https://t.co/DBWKOA4oCH

— For The Records (@ForTheRecordsGh) October 22, 2026

This is the full video of what Sammy Gyamfi really said. NPP mischief makers have deliberately cut the portion where he spoke about government’s intention to register and regularize unlicensed miners whose mining operations do not impact water bodies, forest reserves and abscene places in society.

— Eric Adjei. (@EricAdjei_) October 23, 2026

1. There are three (3) forms of unlicensed artisanal and small-scale mining operations that are irredeemably wrong and can neither be tolerated nor reformed.

* Mining that impacts water bodies
* Mining in forest reserves
* Mining in obscene places in communities such as road sides, school lands, bedrooms etc. that pose dangers to society and public health

2. Once artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs) are not mining in a forest reserve, a water body or an obscene place that negatively impacts the environment, that mineralized area, even if unlicensed, meets the eligibility requirement of FORMALIZATION and can be declared as fit for cooperative mining under government’s “Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP). I maintain that formalizing such unlicensed ASMs is a better approach than chasing them with soldiers. The rCOMSDEP is an ASM formalization initiative aimed at transforming such unlicensed ASMs into licensed and responsible ASMs to promote sustainability in the sector.

3. The small portion of the video that has been mischievously cut and is being circulated, leaves out important details of my explanation of what government is willing to do to support the formalization of such unlicensed ASMs to ensure that they have the appropriate legal documentation, certifications, permits and training for sustainable small-scale mining.

4. ASM formalization and traceability is the new paradigm shift of Ghana’s quest towards sustainability in the ASM sector. The provision of formalization, training and financing support for ASMs whose activities do not negatively impact water bodies, forest reserves or obscene places in our communities to bring them into the formal and responsible mining economy, is a crucial imperative for the fight against irresponsible mining and our national quest to promote sustainability in the mining sector.

5. As I noted in my keynote address at the just-ended Mining in Motion summit on “ASM Formalization; the new paradigm”;

“…….regulation must be firm, but also practical, inclusive and commercially sound. Reform will endure only when compliance becomes a pathway to opportunity rather than hardships. Mining regulations must therefore do more than police miners; it must formalize, build capacities and create opportunities for young Africans in the mining and trading ecosystem. I believe that with proper formalization, financing support and training, Artisanal and Small-scale mining can support livelihoods, generate foreign exchange, strengthen reserves, grow indigenous enterprise and advance national development sustainably.”

“We at the GoldBod hold the view, that properly organized small-scale mining offers one of the clearest pathways from mineral ownership in law to indigenous ownership in practice. Supported by modern technology and sound engineering, the sector can optimize recovery rates, reduce waste, improve safety, preserve the environment and create productive opportunities for young Africans.”

“This is why the GoldBod will next year roll out an ASM Formalization and Financing Support Program (FFSP), in close collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the University of Mines and Technology and Rand Refinery, with the aim of sustainably ramping up gold production, mineral revenue and job creation, while reducing operational costs and environmental risks.”

— Sammy Gyamfi (@SammyGyamfi_) October 23, 2026