Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has urged the Chief Justice to instruct judges overseeing illegal mining (galamsey) cases to conclude trials within one month, starting from the new legal year on October 10, 2024. He emphasized the need for timely justice to combat the environmental destruction caused by galamsey activities, which continue to plague Ghana’s forests and water bodies.
At the Annual Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG), Mr. Dame expressed concern over the slow progress of galamsey-related cases, with over 140 cases involving more than 850 accused individuals still pending, some dating back to 2020. He described this delay as unacceptable, given the urgent environmental crisis posed by illegal mining.
“We are in an urgent national crisis and all citizens and institutions with any form of role to play must be called to action,” he remarked, stressing that the slow pace of adjudication undermines the government’s fight against the galamsey menace.
The Attorney General noted that while the 2019 amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act introduced severe penalties, including a minimum 15-year prison sentence for Ghanaians and 20 years for foreigners, the sluggish conviction rate weakens their deterrent effect. He urged the Judiciary to prioritize these cases to ensure swift justice, adding, “Convictions are secured, but they come in trickles.”
Mr. Dame also condemned political leaders advocating pardon for galamsey offenders, arguing that such petitions only worsens the problem. “Politicians must desist from encouraging galamsey through their rhetoric and actions. Those who preach amnesty for galamsey offenders must be rejected,” he insisted, emphasizing the need for strict punishment without leniency.
With Ghana facing severe environmental degradation due to illegal mining, many view the Attorney General’s call for quicker trials as a necessary step in addressing the crisis.
