Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has called for strong collaborations among Governments, both internationally and regionally, to confront illegal mining issue since the threats are transnational, borderless, not stagnated but an ever-changing industry and dynamic.
Speaking at the West Africa Mining and Security (WAMS) Conference, organised by the Australian High Commission, held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, the Minister highlighted the environmental, economic, and security implications of illegal mining. “Illegal mining undermines governance, promotes corruption, threatens national stability, and facilitates the laundering of criminal proceeds,” the Minister stated, emphasizing its devastating effects on regional peace, economic development, and climate change mitigation efforts.
According to the Minister, illegal mining is a major concern in Ghana and the sub-region, with 64 percent of illicit and organized crime proceeds linked to Environmental and Natural Resources crime. He noted that Government has taken significant steps to combat illegal mining, including joint operations with security agencies, legal prosecutions, and environmental protection initiatives.
Hon. Muntaka highlighted the critical role of mining as a driver of economic growth in Ghana and West Africa, while underscoring the severe risks posed by illegal mining. Describing it as a transnational organized crime, he noted that illegal mining fuels money laundering, terrorist financing, and environmental degradation.
The Minister urged participants to focus on practical outcomes, including aligning mining governance with effective and intelligence-driven security frameworks, strengthening regional collaboration, and ensuring that mining is not just about revenue but about resilience, peace, and environmental sustainability.
The Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency Berenice Owen-Jones, highlighted the importance of partnership and collaboration in addressing the challenges posed by illegal mining.
On her part, the Australian Ambassador for Counter Terrorism, Madam Gemma Huggins, noted that terrorism is a huge challenge in the sub-region, which has dire implications and requires a multifaceted approach to address the issues.
