The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has defended the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, over his recent remarks on illegal mining, saying he was advocating the formalisation of eligible unlicensed miners rather than supporting galamsey.
In a statement issued in Accra on Friday, October 23, 2026, and signed by its General Secretary, Godwin Amarh, the Association rejected interpretations of Mr Gyamfi’s comments that suggested he endorsed illegal mining.
GNASSM said the comments were made during a stakeholder engagement programme jointly organised by the Association and GoldBod at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
According to the Association, the programme brought together more than 1,500 mine owners to discuss the District Gold Market concept and measures to reform the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.
It said Mr Gyamfi’s remarks centred on the government’s plans to register and regularise eligible unlicensed miners whose operations were not located in prohibited areas, including water bodies, forest reserves, roads and highways designated as red zones.
The Association maintained that formalising eligible operators would bring their activities under a lawful and regulated framework, rather than legitimise illegal mining.
GNASSM expressed concern about the circulation of what it described as an isolated video excerpt of Mr Gyamfi’s remarks, arguing that the omission of the broader context had created a misleading impression about his position.
It urged media organisations and the public to review the full recording of the engagement before drawing conclusions about the GoldBod chief executive’s comments.
The Association also reaffirmed its support for the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Formalisation and Financing Support Programme, which it said could improve regulatory compliance, strengthen environmental protection and provide sustainable livelihoods for miners.
It said formalisation, supported by access to financing and stronger regulatory supervision, could help reduce illegal mining and environmental degradation while contributing to national economic growth.
GNASSM further called for a non-partisan approach to the fight against illegal mining, stressing that the protection of Ghana’s forests, rivers and land resources should be treated as a national responsibility beyond political divisions.
“The fight against illegal mining must remain a collective national effort,” the Association said, reaffirming its commitment to lawful, responsible and environmentally sustainable small-scale mining.
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