What changed
President John Dramani Mahama has asked Ghana’s chiefs and traditional rulers to support government efforts against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey. He made the appeal in Accra on October 13, 2026, while receiving the Western North Regional House of Chiefs, led by Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II.
Why it matters
The appeal brings traditional authorities directly into the government’s response to illegal mining. Their role matters because Mahama is seeking support from leaders connected to the communities where national policy must ultimately be understood and acted upon.
The meeting also marked congratulations for Mahama’s 2024 election victory, giving the appeal a political and institutional setting rather than presenting it as a standalone enforcement announcement. What remains unclear is which specific measures the chiefs are expected to support, or whether they made any commitments.
The message is therefore clear, but the machinery behind it is not yet: Mahama wants traditional rulers alongside the government in the fight against galamsey.
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