GREEN T Gives Gov’t 21-Day Ultimatum Over Harassment Of Small Scale Miners
The Green Traceability Minds Foundation (GREEN T) has given the government a 21-day ultimatum to halt what it describes as the persistent harassment, intimidation and extortion of licensed small-scale and cooperative miners by some security personnel and self-styled anti-galamsey taskforce operatives.
The organisation warned that failure by the government to address the concerns within the period could force small-scale miners across the country to suspend their operations.
In a statement issued yesterday, GREEN T said it was deeply worried that miners who have been licensed and registered under the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) continue to suffer abuse despite their compliance with mining regulations.
According to the organisation, cooperative miners who have undergone the required registration and training and obtained the necessary licences are still subjected to arbitrary seizure of excavator parts and other equipment, with some allegedly being compelled to pay money before their machines are released.
GREEN T described the practice as organised extortion rather than legitimate law enforcement.
The organisation noted that the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector has become the backbone of Ghana’s gold industry, contributing more than 40 percent of the country’s total gold production.
It said the sector exported about 103 metric tonnes of gold valued at approximately US$10.8 billion in 2025, surpassing the large-scale mining sector for the first time in Ghana’s history.
The statement further claimed that between January 2025 and May 2026, the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) purchased and exported gold worth US$16.11 billion, with about 98 percent of the purchases coming from the ASM sector.
According to GREEN T, the sector has played a significant role in boosting Ghana’s foreign exchange earnings, strengthening the cedi and increasing the country’s foreign reserves.
The foundation questioned why licensed miners who contribute immensely to the economy continue to face intimidation instead of protection.
It also cited concerns previously raised by the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) over the activities of multiple taskforces and individuals allegedly posing as security operatives to extort money from miners.
GREEN T called on the government to immediately direct all security agencies to stop the harassment of licensed miners, introduce a mandatory identification system for all authorised anti-galamsey taskforce members, investigate and prosecute persons involved in extortion, release equipment seized without due process, and guarantee protection for rCOMSDEP-registered cooperative miners operating within the law.
The organisation stressed that small-scale miners remain committed to responsible and environmentally sustainable mining and are prepared to support the government’s efforts to formalise the sector through GoldBod.
However, it cautioned that if the concerns are not addressed within the 21-day ultimatum, miners would have no option but to lay down their tools, a move it said could have serious implications for Ghana’s gold production and foreign exchange earnings.
