Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has unveiled new measures to curb illegal mining, including revoking post-December 7 mining licenses and launching the Blue Water Initiative to restore polluted water bodies.

While the government sees these steps as crucial, environmental groups remain skeptical. Eco-conscious Citizens are calling for a total ban on illegal mining, while ARocha Ghana questions the initiative’s effectiveness.

Critics argue that enforcement remains weak and worry that without stricter regulations, the problem of galamsey may persist.

The government insists it is committed to protecting the environment, but whether these measures will yield real change remains to be seen.