Environmental journalist Erastus Asare Donkor has waded into the controversy surrounding comments by Ghana Gold Board CEO Sammy Gyamfi that small-scale miners can operate without a license as long as they stay away from forest reserves, waterbodies and roadsides.

In a sharp reaction, the award-winning journalist said Gyamfi goofed.

“Clearly he goofed big time. Mining without license is a crime punishable by law with imprisonment,” Erastus stated.

He said the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) is unambiguous that no person can mine in Ghana without a mineral right and a license granted by the Minister for Mines, irrespective of land ownership, and that suggesting otherwise is dangerous and unlawful.

Erastus Asare Donkor, who has extensively reported on the devastation caused by illegal mining in forest reserves and water bodies, also questioned the relevance of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).

“Other than that what is NAIMOS DOING?” he quizzed.

His comments come after the Minority Caucus in Parliament on 23 October demanded the resignation of Gyamfi and called on government to declare a state of emergency in all red-flag galamsey hotspots.

The Minority described Gyamfi’s statement as reckless and a tacit endorsement of illegal mining.