President of the Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association, Mr Michael Kwadwo Peprah, has said that the long-term solution to Ghana’s illegal mining menace, popularly known as galamsey, lies in adopting aggressive sustainable mining practices.

Speaking during a panel discussion at the Mining and Minerals Convention in Accra, Mr. Peprah highlighted the financial and logistical challenges faced by local miners.

He noted that acquiring a single excavator costs as much as $200,000, making it nearly impossible for ordinary Ghanaians in resource-rich communities to mine responsibly.

“How is the ordinary man in an area with mineral resources expected to mine in the face of these difficulties?” he asked.

Mr. Peprah further emphasised that GoldBod, a new initiative by the government, was born out of the needs and concerns of small-scale miners, who often feel sidelined in Ghana’s mineral sector.

He lamented that while Ghana is rich in gold, it is foreigners who are reaping the major benefits, instead of local miners who struggle to access funding, equipment, and fair opportunities.

The convention brought together key stakeholders from the mining industry, policymakers, and civil society groups to deliberate on sustainable solutions to illegal mining, which continues to threaten the environment, water bodies, and community livelihoods across the country.