By Ishmeal 
The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has rejected claims that its policy to transition eligible miners into a regulated system amounts to an endorsement of illegal mining.
The Board said its policy is designed to help address illegal mining by bringing eligible operators into a formal framework where they can be licensed, regulated and held accountable for their environmental and operational activities.
According to GoldBod, a selectively edited video has been used to portray the policy as support for illegal mining, contrary to its intended purpose.
The Board maintains that the transition is aimed at moving eligible miners away from illegal operations and into a system that promotes responsible mining practices and compliance with the law.
Under such a framework, miners would be expected to operate within established regulatory requirements, including measures intended to improve accountability and environmental protection.
GoldBod’s clarification comes amid ongoing public concern about illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, and its impact on water bodies, forests and communities across Ghana.
Illegal mining remains a major environmental challenge, making effective regulation, law enforcement and responsible mining practices important to protecting the country’s natural resources.
The Board’s position is that formalising eligible operators should not be interpreted as legitimising illegal activities. Rather, the policy is intended to create a regulated pathway through which qualifying miners can operate legally and be held responsible for their actions.
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