The government is preparing to take decisive action against illegal mining, also known as "galamsey," in response to the growing national discourse and calls for an immediate ban on all forms of small-scale mining. This was disclosed by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor.

Mr. Jinapor, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Damongo, announced that a crucial national security meeting will be held on Wednesday, bringing together all 16 regional ministers.

At this meeting, a comprehensive briefing will be provided on the current illegal mining situation, allowing the government to make an informed decision in the national interest.

"As a government, we have noted the divergent views on the galamsey issue.

We previously imposed a nearly two-year ban on small-scale mining in the country, so this call is not new," Mr. Jinapor told the Daily Graphic in an interview.

He added that the government would review the outcomes of the previous ban, examining its successes and challenges, to determine the best course of action that serves the country’s supreme interest.

“It is essential to put aside all forms of partisanship in finding the best solution to the illegal mining problem,” he stressed.

Mr. Jinapor also cautioned against politicizing the issue, noting that if leading members of the ruling party continued to show a lukewarm attitude toward fighting illegal mining during an election year, and the opposition party promised to grant amnesty to those imprisoned for their involvement in galamsey, it would undermine efforts to combat the menace.

The government’s decision-making process aims to balance national security concerns with the economic and environmental impacts of illegal mining, signalling a strong stance against the ongoing threat of galamsey.