Writer: Daniel Benin || Investigative Journalist OHIM TV
In a political climate where many leaders shy away from confronting wrongdoing within their own ranks, President John Dramani Mahama has demonstrated a rare kind of leadership — bold, uncompromising, and in tune with the aspirations of ordinary Ghanaians.
His government’s recent decisive actions targeting internal saboteurs involved in illegal mining (galamsey) and regulatory abuse must be loudly applauded.
Particular commendation goes to President Mahama himself, the Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, and the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, for showing resolve in the fight against institutional corruption that has long crippled Ghana’s battle against illegal mining.
By clamping down on underhand deals and rogue activities within state institutions, this administration is finally proving that it is not only willing to talk about the galamsey menace — it is prepared to fight it from the inside out.
Reports of state agencies, particularly elements within the Minerals Commission and the Forestry Commission, deliberately frustrating legitimate mining businesses and operating their own illicit rackets have persisted for years.
These officials have allegedly drawn up their own illicit operations — engaging in extortion, harassment, and backdoor licensing that undermine both the law and investor confidence in Ghana’s mining sector.
The recent dramatic intervention by National Security operatives, who stormed and shut down the Forestry Commission offices in Ashanti Bekwai, is a bold and symbolic message: no one is above the law, and corruption within the system will no longer be tolerated.
The presence of over 15 armed operatives, acting on “orders from above,” was not just a show of force — it was a show of leadership. But this is only the beginning.
While the current clean-up is commendable, there remains a long list of institutions and individuals embedded within the Minerals Commission, Forestry Commission, and other regional regulatory bodies who continue to undermine the rule of law.
If President Mahama’s administration is truly serious about winning the galamsey war, the next phase of this campaign must target corrupt officials stationed in these agencies, especially in hotbed areas such as:
• Ashanti Bekwai
• Sefwi Wiawso
• Bibiani
• Wassa Akropong
• Aowin
• Tarkwa
• Enchi
These are zones where genuine, licensed small-scale miners report constant harassment, extortion, and even sabotage from the very government officers who are supposed to support and regulate them.
The problem has never been a lack of laws. It has been the deliberate sabotage of those laws by corrupt officials acting with impunity.
These government-appointed operatives have, for far too long, been the gatekeepers of galamsey — offering protection for illegal operators while punishing law-abiding businesses.
President Mahama’s decision to clean his own house is not just courageous — it is historic. For once, a Ghanaian president is taking the fight to his own doorstep, where the rot begins. It is a clear signal that good governance must start within.
The people of Ghana — especially those affected by the environmental and social toll of illegal mining — will be watching closely.
We urge the President and his team not to relent, not to be distracted, and certainly not to stop short.
A complete audit and restructuring of the Minerals Commission and Forestry Commission must follow.
Let this be the legacy of President Mahama: the president who stood up to his own, cleaned up the system, and gave the fight against galamsey the integrity it so desperately needed.
The battle has just begun — and this time, it’s from within.
