GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi has defended his position on the formalisation of unlicensed small-scale mining, arguing that miners operating outside protected and environmentally sensitive areas can be brought into the regulated mining sector.
His comments follow criticism of his earlier remarks, which suggested that unlicensed miners operating outside protected zones could be formalised rather than pursued by security personnel.
In a response to the controversy, Mr Gyamfi maintained that while illegal mining in forest reserves, water bodies and other prohibited areas cannot be tolerated, eligible operators working elsewhere should be given the opportunity to obtain the necessary licences and operate legally.
He identified mining activities that pollute water bodies, encroach on forest reserves or take place in dangerous locations within communities, including roadsides, school lands and bedrooms, as unacceptable.
According to him, artisanal and small-scale miners operating outside these prohibited areas could qualify for formalisation under the government’s Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), provided their activities do not cause environmental harm.
He explained that the programme is designed to help transform unlicensed operators into responsible miners through legal documentation, permits, certification and the necessary training.
Mr Gyamfi also disputed the circulation of what he described as an edited version of his earlier comments, saying the video left out important details about the government’s plans to support eligible miners and bring them into the formal sector.
He said formalisation, skills development and access to financing were key to promoting responsible mining, protecting the environment and improving traceability in the small-scale mining industry.
As part of the government’s broader formalisation efforts, the GoldBod CEO announced plans to introduce an Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Formalisation and Financing Support Programme (FFSP) in 2027.
The initiative, he said, would be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the University of Mines and Technology, and Rand Refinery.
The programme is expected to support increased gold production, boost mineral revenue and create jobs while helping to reduce miners’ operational costs and minimise environmental risks
