GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi has defended his stance on bringing unlicensed small‑scale miners into the formal mining sector, insisting that operators working outside forest reserves, water bodies and other environmentally sensitive areas can be brought in.
His remarks followed criticism over comments suggesting that unlicensed miners could operate in areas outside protected zones. Gyamfi replied that formalising eligible miners would be a more effective approach than pursuing them with security personnel.
He maintained that some forms of unlicensed mining cannot be tolerated, identifying operations that pollute water bodies, take place in forest reserves, or are conducted in dangerous locations within communities, including roadsides, school lands and bedrooms.
According to Gyamfi, artisanal and small‑scale miners operating outside these prohibited areas may qualify for formalisation under the government’s Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), provided their activities do not negatively affect the environment.
The programme is intended to transform unlicensed operators into licensed and responsible miners through the provision of legal documentation, permits, certifications and the necessary training.
Gyamfi also rejected the circulation of an edited version of his earlier remarks, arguing that the video omitted important details about the government’s proposed support for bringing eligible miners into the formal sector.
He said formalisation, training and financing support were central to efforts to promote responsible small‑scale mining, improve environmental protection and strengthen traceability within the industry.
As part of this approach, the GoldBod CEO announced plans to introduce an Artisanal and Small‑scale Mining Formalisation and Financing Support Programme (FFSP) in 2027. The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the University of Mines and Technology and Rand Refinery, aiming to increase gold production, boost mineral revenue and create jobs while reducing operational costs and environmental risks.
