The Presidential Candidate for the Alliance for Revolutionary Change (ARC), Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has revealed a plan to tackle illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, proposing a military-led approach to dismantle machinery used in the practice.

His plan sharply criticises the current government’s method of seizing and burning mining equipment, calling it “ineffective and nonsensical.”

Speaking during an Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) forum on Tuesday, 1 October 2024, Mr. Kyerematen outlined his 10-point blueprint, which includes a one-year ban on all small-scale and community mining activities to allow for proper regulation and environmental recovery.

“The burning of equipment is not a sustainable solution,” Mr. Kyerematen argued.

He continued that: “The ARC is advocating for the demobilisation of all machinery and equipment used in mining under the supervision of the military. This involves creating an inventory, properly storing, and preserving the equipment.”

Mr. Kyerematen emphasised that merely destroying machinery does nothing to solve the underlying problems of galamsey.

“This practice of burning equipment doesn’t make any sense. After one year, they’ll be unusable anyway, so why not demobilise and keep track of them? That’s what the ARC is proposing,” he added.