Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, has strongly criticised the government’s policy of deporting foreign nationals involved in illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.

This follows Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka indicating that foreign nationals found engaging in galamsey will be deported.

Speaking on Channel One TV‘s The Point of View on Monday, April 7, Ashigbey described the approach as illegal and a violation of Ghana’s laws, particularly the 2019 amendment of Act 995.

Dr Kenneth Ashigbey

He expressed disbelief at the Interior Minister’s stance, emphasising that the amendment was specifically designed to remove judicial discretion and ensure strict enforcement of the law.

“The reason why we had the 2019 amendment of the law Act 995 was to take out discretion from even the judges so that the judges will not have any discretion but to ensure that the laws are imposed,” he stated.

Ashigbey argued that criminals involved in illegal mining must serve their sentences before deportation is considered.

He highlighted the risks posed by Ghana’s porous borders, citing the case of Aisha Huang, a notorious illegal miner who managed to re-enter the country and resume her activities despite being deported.

He further questioned the legality of the policy, pointing out that it undermines the enforcement of Ghana’s laws.

“If a minister looks in the face of the law and unfortunately he was talking to the police who are also supposed to be enforcing the law, you would have hoped that somebody in that room should have told the minister that the policy is illegal,” Ashigbey remarked.

Ashigbey called for stricter adherence to the law and urged authorities to prioritise the prosecution and sentencing of foreign nationals involved in illegal mining to deter future violations.Source:Abigail Arthur