The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr. Ing. Ken Ashigbey, has appealed to judges and magistrates to fast-track cases related to illegal mining and its environmental destruction.
Speaking at a capacity-building workshop for Circuit Court Judges and Magistrates in Takoradi—organised by the Ghana Chamber of Mines in collaboration with the Judicial Training Institute—Dr. Ing. Ken Ashigbey stressed that Ghana is at a critical point in the fight against illegal mining. He urged judges and magistrates to handle cases involving suspected galamsey operators with urgency and to impose severe sanctions to serve as a deterrent.
“The devastating effects of galamsey are plain to see. Polluted rivers, devastated farmlands, severe health and medical predicaments, and shuttered communities, among others. We are at a critical juncture where the urgency of combating illegal mining cannot be overstated. It’s our collective responsibility to act swiftly and decisively.
“Yet, justice often arrives too slowly, and in some cases, we don’t see the matter being adjudicated to serve as an effective deterrent. We therefore call on the judiciary to prioritise and expedite mining-related cases, especially those involving environmental degradation and breaches of licensing regulations. Justice delayed in this matter is not merely justice denied, but it’s national development destroyed and public confidence eroded “, he said.
Dr. Ing. Ashigbey added that the engagement helps judges and magistrates better appreciate the issues and refresh their understanding of the laws governing mining. He noted that the Ghana Chamber of Mines is committed to collaborating with other institutions to support the judiciary in fulfilling its mandate.
A Justice of the Supreme Court and Director of the Judicial Training Institute, His Lordship Justice Tanko Amadu, also speaking at the capacity-building event for Circuit Court Judges and Magistrates from Western, Western North and Central regions called on Circuit Court Judges and Magistrates located in Ghana’s Mineral endowed belt to use their courts to help protect Ghana’s mineral and land resources currently under devastation.
“The constitutional foundation against which Acts 703, 995, and 1036 must be applied. The constitutional imperative is clear: we are custodians of legal accountability in the extractive sector and stewards of justice where the rights of communities, the state, and private investors intersect.
“This particular training comes at a critical time when illegal mining activities-popularly known as ‘galamsey’, continue to threaten not just our environment, but the very social and legal fabric of rural mining communities. Our courts are increasingly confronted with cases involving:
• Conflicts between landowners and licensed mining companies.
• Unlawful encroachments on mineral-rich lands.
• Regulatory breaches and environmental violations.
• Exploitative practices in illegal mining. It is therefore imperative that we refresh ourselves with the statutory frameworks governing these issues, not only to dispense justice but to do so with clarity, competence, and constitutionality“, he advised.
The two-day capacity building is expected to focus on two key legislative frameworks, thus the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036). The Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.
