Lands Minister, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on February 14, 2025. The Minister, accompanied by key agency heads under his ministry, emphasized the importance of the Asantehene’s support as the government works on reforms in the mining and forest sectors.

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Hon. Buah highlighted the significance of Otumfuo's wisdom and leadership, especially in addressing the devastating impact of illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey. The Minister acknowledged the Asantehene's previous interventions in the galamsey fight and appealed for continued support as the government works on a comprehensive strategy to combat the menace.

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The Minister revealed that the government has set in motion several initiatives, including the formation of an 18-member expert committee tasked with reviewing mining regulations and overhauling the Community Mining Scheme. The government is also reclassifying mining categories and introducing medium-scale mining to help address the challenges in the sector.

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Otumfuo Osei Tutu II praised the Lands Minister for his leadership and expressed confidence in his ability to deliver on the nation’s natural resource management. However, Otumfuo emphasized that addressing youth unemployment was key to resolving the galamsey problem, suggesting that creating sustainable livelihoods for youth in mining areas could prevent their involvement in illegal mining.

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Additionally, the Asantehene advised that the ministry should focus on apprehending and prosecuting the influential figures behind the illegal mining business, rather than focusing solely on the youth.

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On matters of public lands, Otumfuo counseled the Minister to address the ongoing sale of public lands to public officials, calling for a halt to the practice.

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The Minister also acknowledged the Asantehene’s support for the government’s afforestation initiatives, notably the Tree for Life project, and assured him of continued efforts to combat illegal mining and its impacts.

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In a separate engagement, the Minister joined other officials in touring the Afari Military Hospital, a project that was initiated under the Mahama administration but had stalled under President Akufo-Addo’s leadership.

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