The newly elected chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress in Ghana’s Fomena constituency has pledged to support people engaged in illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, saying it is the main source of livelihood in the area.
Ibrahim Atipilleh, the new NDC Fomena chairman in the Ashanti Region, made the remarks to journalists after winning in the party’s constituency executive elections. “I know that in Fomena, the only work we do here is galamsey,” he said, adding that he stands behind anyone who wants to engage in it.
Atipilleh said he would allow the activity only if it is done the right way, and local reports said he promised to make sure miners did not destroy the land.
He said he was not acting out of personal interest but for the good of the party, according to News Ghana, and hoped that backing party members in business would help mobilize support to win the Fomena seat in the 2028 elections. He also thanked his predecessor, Eric Opoku, and said he would seek his counsel.
Fomena is in the Adansi North District of the Ashanti Region.
His comments come as President John Dramani Mahama’s government steps up its fight against illegal mining, which has damaged rivers and forest reserves across the country. The government has set up the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, or NAIMOS, which has been given funding to intensify operations.
At the secretariat’s inauguration, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah warned that galamsey had already destroyed 16% of Ghana’s land, News Ghana reported.
Mahama has said anyone caught in illegal mining will be dealt with according to the law, regardless of political affiliation. In November 2025, the majority leader cited the arrest of an NDC member of parliament, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo of Asutifi South, for allegedly leading an attack on NAIMOS personnel as evidence of that commitment.
Small-scale mining is legal in Ghana with a license, while mining without one is illegal. The reports did not say what Atipilleh meant by doing it the right way, or how he would ensure miners operate legally.
The NDC’s regional and national leadership had not publicly responded to his remarks as of Sunday, according to News Ghana.
Civil society groups and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference called in October 2025 for a state of emergency over illegal mining. Opposition lawmakers have pressed the Lands Minister for weekly updates on the fight against galamsey, saying existing measures have not yielded the desired results. A recent study found toxic metals in some vegetables grown in galamsey areas, according to GhanaWeb.
