GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi has defended his call to formalise unlicensed small-scale miners operating outside protected areas.
The clarification follows criticism of his earlier comments suggesting that some unlicensed miners could be allowed to operate.
In a post addressing the controversy, Mr Gyamfi said bringing eligible miners into the formal sector is more effective than chasing them with security personnel.
He stressed that not all forms of unlicensed mining can be tolerated, citing operations that pollute water bodies, encroach on forest reserves, or take place in dangerous locations such as roadsides, school lands and residential areas.
According to him, artisanal and small-scale miners working outside those prohibited zones could qualify for formalisation under government’s Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), provided their activities do not harm the environment.
He explained that the programme seeks to transform unlicensed operators into licensed, responsible miners through legal documentation, permits, certification and training.
Mr Gyamfi also dismissed an edited video of his earlier remarks in circulation, saying it omitted key details about government’s support to formalise eligible miners.
He said formalisation, training and financial support are central to promoting responsible small-scale mining, protecting the environment and improving traceability.
As part of the approach, he announced plans to roll out an Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Formalisation and Financing Support Programme (FFSP) in 2027 in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the University of Mines and Technology and Rand Refinery.
The initiative, he said, aims to increase gold production, boost mineral revenue, create jobs and reduce operational costs and environmental risks.
