The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has called for the immediate resignation or dismissal of Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi over remarks attributed to him suggesting that small-scale mining could be conducted without the requisite licence under certain conditions.
In a press release dated Friday, October 23, 2026, and signed by the Member of Parliament for Mampong and Ranking Member of the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, the caucus condemned the alleged comments and demanded accountability from the government.
The Minority said a widely circulated video showed Mr Gyamfi addressing a group of people about the government’s reported approval for galamsey operators to mine outside forest reserves, water bodies and roadsides, even without small-scale mining licences and the necessary permits.
It questioned whether the position attributed to the GoldBod CEO meant that unlicensed miners could operate anywhere outside the specified areas without regard for the country’s mining laws.
The caucus argued that such an interpretation could encourage lawlessness and undermine efforts to combat illegal mining, which continues to pose significant environmental challenges.
Citing Sections 9(1) and 82(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), the Minority maintained that mining activities require the appropriate mineral rights or licences, stressing that the location of an operation does not exempt it from the legal requirements.
It further referenced Section 89 of the Act, which provides for the designation of areas for small-scale mining, arguing that such authority must be exercised in accordance with the law.
The Minority accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of failing to demonstrate a credible solution to illegal mining, contrasting the alleged remarks with the party’s campaign promises ahead of the 2024 general elections.
It also called on civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, political parties, religious leaders, traditional authorities, media organisations, professional bodies and other stakeholders to condemn the comments and demand accountability.
The caucus outlined seven demands, including an unqualified apology from Mr Gyamfi, government sanctions against him and his immediate resignation as GoldBod CEO or dismissal if he fails to step down.
It also called for a comprehensive audit of GoldBod’s documentation to verify the traceability of gold purchases from mine to market and establish whether responsible sourcing requirements are being met.
Additionally, the Minority urged President John Dramani Mahama and his government to present a clear roadmap for ending galamsey, as promised before the 2024 elections.
The caucus further demanded the declaration of a state of emergency in areas identified as illegal mining hotspots and the formalisation of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) through a Legislative Instrument (L.I.).
The Minority said the alleged remarks risk undermining the enforcement of Ghana’s mining laws and efforts to protect the country’s environment.
The demands add to growing criticism from stakeholders over the reported comments, with civil society organisations also calling on Mr Gyamfi to publicly retract the remarks and reaffirm that mining without a valid licence remains illegal.
By: Bernard Mensah
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