The former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has advocated for a total prohibition of illegal mining (galamsey) and a temporary halt to small-scale mining to support nationwide land restoration efforts.

During an interview on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Wednesday, April 2, he emphasized the urgent need for stronger measures to safeguard Ghana’s natural resources. He further recommended that large-scale mining firms suspend operations for at least three to four years to allow for environmental recovery.

“Galamsey should be banned; small-scale mining should be suspended. The big companies should be set aside for the next three to four years to reclaim our land. How much are we getting from our gold? The last time I heard, $2 billion worth of Ghana’s gold was exported to Dubai, and out of that $2 billion, most of it was smuggled. Ghana gained just peanuts from it,” he stated.

Ade Coker also stressed the necessity of closely monitoring excavators used in mining to deter unauthorized activities.

“We should have an inventory of all the excavators in this country. We should find out which excavator is in road construction and how many are in mining, then call the owners to bring them to designated places,” he added.

Separately, in an anti-galamsey operation, the Western Central Regional Police Command apprehended 11 individuals involved in illegal mining along the Bonsa River in the Western Region.

The suspects, consisting of seven Ghanaians and four Chinese nationals, were taken into custody on March 31, 2025, following an intelligence-driven crackdown on illegal mining activities.