Convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Dr Ken Ashigbey, says the government’s fight against illegal mining will continue to fall short unless state officials entrusted with enforcing the law actively play their part. …
Convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Dr Ken Ashigbey, has commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for revoking Executive Instrument (EI) 144, describing the decision as a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to prot …
Ken Ashigbey (M), Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (1st R) with management The large-scale mining sector contributed more than GH¢22.22 billion in revenue to the economy and provided over 13,819 direct jobs despite facing significant global and domestic challenges, the Chamber of Mines h …
Ken Ashigbey (M), Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (1st R) with management The large-scale mining sector contributed more than GH¢22.22 billion in revenue to the economy and provided over 13,819 direct jobs despite facing significant global and domestic challenges, the Chamber of Mines h …
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ken Ashigbey, has called on government to guarantee security of tenure for mining companies, warning that uncertainty in the sector could undermine investments needed to drive economic growth and community development. …
… Ken Ashigbey, speaking on PM Express Business Edition on Thursday, said Ghana’s current fiscal regime is making the country less attractive to investors, especially as competitors in West Africa offer better conditions. …
The CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ken Ashigbey, has warned that Ghana risks losing its dominance in gold production as mining investors increasingly turn to other West African countries with friendlier fiscal regimes. …
… Ken Ashigbey, said Ghana’s mining industry can only remain globally competitive if regulatory actions are carried out within the framework of the law while safeguarding investor confidence. …
Ghana's Minerals Commission is developing minimum wage and tender benchmarks for contract mining firms to prevent underbidding and protect worker pay, as the country requires miners to shift surface operations to Ghanaian-owned contractors and underground operations to joint ventures with at least 50% local ownership by December 31.
Ghana's Minerals Commission is developing minimum wage and tender benchmarks for contract mining firms to prevent underbidding and protect worker pay, as the country requires miners to shift surface operations to Ghanaian-owned contractors and underground operations to joint ventures with at least 50% local ownership by December 31.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines is calling on government to support local gold refining through tax and levy relief, arguing that public-private effort is needed to make the transition commercially viable as Ghana moves to end raw gold exports by 2030. GoldBod has directed aggregators to refine gold doré locally before export from September 1, 2026.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines is pressing for targeted energy interventions to make local gold refining commercially viable, with the CEO arguing that government and industry must work together to reduce power costs, taxes, and operational expenses that currently make local refining expensive.
The CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines warned that the country's push to refine gold locally will come with additional costs for industry players, but said Ghana must accept this pain to derive greater value from minerals. He called on government to review taxes and levies, invest in the initiative, and support private refineries in adopting cost-reducing technology.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has cautioned that Ghana's push to process and refine gold locally will impose additional costs on mining companies, and has urged government to share the burden by contributing to local refining capacity and reconsidering taxes and levies on the sector.
Ken Ashigbey, convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, has accused some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies of facilitating illegal mining by collecting fees from galamsey operators, arguing that such practice raises questions about local authorities' commitment to fighting illegal mining and may expose officials to criminal liability under Ghana's mining laws.
Ghana's mining industry recorded 34 serious accidents and 210 first-aid accidents in 2025, though fatalities declined from seven in 2024 to three, representing a 57 per cent reduction. Chamber of Mines CEO Ken Ashigbey called for continued focus on safety and zero-harm goals.
The Ministry of Finance and four other institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the sale of 30 per cent of gold output from large-scale mining companies under the Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Policy (GANRAP), which seeks to increase Ghana's international reserves to the equivalent of 15 months of import cover by 2028.
Dr Ken Ashigbey, convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, says Ghana has not honoured the memory of eight people who died in last year's helicopter crash while travelling to support anti-galamsey efforts, pointing to continued illegal mining activity in areas where state institutions are expected to enforce the law.
Dr Ken Ashigbey, Convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, has criticised the country's failure to stop galamsey a year after eight people, including senior military and government officials, died in a helicopter crash travelling to an anti-illegal mining programme, saying the continued destruction of water bodies and illegal mining activities raise questions about Ghana's commitment to the fight.
The Kyebi water treatment plant has been shut down because raw water turbidity makes treatment impossible, according to the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining. Dr Ken Ashigbey cited this as evidence of worsening galamsey impact on Ghana's water bodies.
On August 6, 2025, a helicopter carrying eight Ghanaians—including the Defence and Environment ministers—crashed while travelling to an event in Obuasi aimed at confronting illegal mining. One year later, the article reflects on the tragedy and what lessons the country has learnt in its efforts to combat galamsey, which continues to ravage natural resources.
On August 6, 2025, a helicopter carrying eight people including Ghana's Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Murtala Mohammed crashed while en route to an event in Obuasi aimed at confronting illegal mining, prompting national reflection on lessons from the tragedy.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has donated relief items worth GH¢2 million to NADMO to support victims of recent floods across the country. The donation included mattresses, bed sheets, rice, wellington boots, hand gloves and beverages, with the Deputy Interior Minister commending the Chamber and its member companies for supporting affected families.
Gold Fields Ghana Foundation is funding two major road projects in its host communities: the 2.26km Budo City to Bogoso Junction road, estimated at $1.26 million and expected to be completed this year, and the 14.2km Samahu-Pepesa road, expected to cost $5.3 million and be completed by the end of next year. Local residents and chiefs praised the Foundation for easing transportation difficulties and helping farmers move produce to markets.
The Media Coalition Against Galamsey says the conviction of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako should be followed by prosecution of all persons implicated in illegal mining, including politically exposed persons and financiers, regardless of political affiliation.
The Media Coalition Against Galamsey says the prosecution of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako should be followed by action against all politically exposed persons, financiers, and others implicated in illegal mining, regardless of political affiliation, to ensure fair and consistent enforcement of mining laws.
Dr Ken Ashigbey, convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, has urged the government to trace financial networks sustaining galamsey operations and prosecute kingpins rather than focus solely on operators, warning that illicit cash flows linked to artisanal and small-scale mining threaten Ghana's international financial reputation and risk FATF blacklisting.
Dr Ken Ashigbey, Convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, warns that successive governments have failed to enforce the law against politically connected illegal miners, and that galamsey will continue unless political interference ends and the state holds all perpetrators accountable regardless of party affiliation.
Dr Ken Ashigbey, convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, says the government's anti-galamsey campaign is being undermined because some state officials are not adequately supporting enforcement efforts, and he has called for MMDCEs and other state representatives to be held accountable for enforcing the law in their jurisdictions.
The government has revoked Executive Instrument 144, restoring the Achimota Forest Reserve to full protected status and reversing the removal of approximately 361.5 acres from the reserve in 2022. Dr Ken Ashigbey, Convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, commended the decision as a significant milestone in Ghana's efforts to protect forests and combat environmental degradation.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines says uncertainty over lease renewals, not high tax rates, is the greatest threat to Ghana's competitiveness as Africa's leading mining investment destination. The Chamber urged government to guarantee security of tenure for mining leases to attract long-term investment, noting that investors prioritize certainty over lease renewals more than tax levels given mining's capital-intensive nature.
Ghana's large-scale mining sector contributed over GH¢22.22 billion in revenue to the economy in 2025 and provided over 13,819 direct jobs, according to the Chamber of Mines CEO. The industry also recorded US$4.20 billion in local procurement spending and spent US$88.60 million on community development initiatives.
Ghana's large-scale mining sector contributed over GH¢22.22 billion in revenue to the economy and provided over 13,819 direct jobs in 2025, despite global and domestic challenges, according to the Chamber of Mines. The industry also recorded local procurement spending of US$4.20 billion and spent US$88.60 million on community development initiatives.
Ken Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, has urged government to guarantee security of tenure for mining companies, arguing that certainty in mining rights and agreements is essential for attracting investor billions needed for expansion, cleaner technologies, and community development.
Ken Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, has warned that Ghana's mining tax regime is hitting the upper threshold of what the IMF considers acceptable (40–60% of mining profit-sharing), and is pushing investors to rival West African countries. He cautioned that once gold prices fall, government revenue could exceed 60%, making Ghana uncompetitive.
The CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines warns that Ghana's fiscal regime is making it less attractive to investors compared to neighbours like Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea, with government's share of mining profits already hitting the IMF's upper threshold of 60%, and capital is already beginning to shift away from Ghana.
Ken Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, warned that Ghana's mining tax structure is making the country less attractive to investors as regional competitors offer friendlier fiscal regimes. He disclosed that at least one mining company has redirected investment funds from Ghana to Côte d'Ivoire, and cautioned that when gold prices fall, government's share of mining revenues could exceed 60%.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has stressed the need for regulatory certainty and procedural fairness in mining enforcement, citing concerns over developments affecting Gold Fields' Tarkwa operations. The Chamber warned that uncertainty surrounding major mining operations could harm employment, host communities, and Ghana's attractiveness to international investors.