Murtala Mohammed is the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology
The Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, Dr Murtala Mohammed, has stated that the government has commenced the process to amend the Minerals and Mining Act of 2003 to combat illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
According to him, repealing the Minerals and Mining Act of 2003 would prohibit individuals from engaging in illegal mining activities in various forest areas nationwide for preservation purposes.
The minister emphasised that this action aligns with the National Democratic Congress‘ (NDC) commitment to fighting the menace of illegal mining activities and protecting lands from destruction.
Speaking on Key Points aired on TV3 on Saturday, April 5, 2025, Murtala assured the public that the government would do its best to ban galamsey in forest areas.
“We are initiating the process of repealing the Minerals and Mining Act of 2003 to bar individuals from mining in forest areas,” he said.
His comments come amid vehement criticisms from a section of the public regarding the government’s lackadaisical approach to resolving illegal mining activities.
President John Dramani Mahama has been called out by key stakeholders for failing to take drastic measures to fight galamsey as promised during the 2024 election campaign period.
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