The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) has thrown its support behind the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, dismissing allegations that he endorsed illegal mining and insisting that his comments on formalising the artisanal and small-scale mining sector have been taken out of context.
In a press statement issued on Friday and signed by its General Secretary, Godwin Amarh, the Association said a video excerpt of Mr Gyamfi’s remarks circulating on social media had triggered media discussions that wrongly portrayed him as supporting galamsey.
GNASSM maintained that the interpretation did not reflect the substance of the GoldBod CEO’s comments, urging the public to consider the full recording before drawing conclusions.
The Association explained that the remarks were made during a programme jointly organised by GNASSM and GoldBod at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on March 23, 2026.
The event, which brought together more than 1,500 mine owners, focused on the District Gold Market concept proposed by the Association and measures to formalise the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.
According to GNASSM, Mr Gyamfi’s comments concerned the government’s intention to register and regularise eligible unlicensed miners whose operations were not located in environmentally sensitive or prohibited areas.
These include water bodies, forest reserves, roads, highways and other restricted locations designated as “red zones” by successive governments.
“Discussions about bringing eligible operators into a lawful and regulated framework should not be confused with an endorsement of illegal mining,” the statement said.
The Association expressed concern that the circulation of isolated excerpts without adequate context had created a misleading impression among sections of the public.
It argued that formalising eligible operators was distinct from endorsing unlawful mining, stressing the need for a clear distinction between efforts to bring miners into the regulatory system and activities that violate mining laws or threaten the environment.
GNASSM also reaffirmed its support for GoldBod and its commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders in implementing the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Formalisation and Financing Support Programme.
The Association said formalisation, supported by access to financing, responsible mining practices and stronger regulatory oversight, could help curb illegal mining while promoting sustainable economic growth.
It called on media organisations and the public to review the full recording of Mr Gyamfi’s remarks to establish the context in which the comments were made.
Beyond the controversy, GNASSM urged stakeholders to adopt a non-partisan national approach to addressing illegal mining, arguing that protecting the country’s water bodies, forests and land resources should be treated as a collective responsibility rather than a political contest.
“The Association remains committed to lawful, responsible and environmentally sustainable small-scale mining,” the statement concluded.
By: Christian Kpesese
