CEO of Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, has advised the Mahama led administration to take stronger action against illegal small-scale mining, widely referred to as ‘galamsey.’

He pointed out that the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government’s failure to effectively tackle the issue contributed to its loss in the elections.

Jackson joined the #StopGalamseyNow demonstration in Accra, where protesters highlighted the severe environmental and economic consequences of illegal mining.

On March 7, he posted on X, “Lest the ‘powers that be’ forget: Galamsey was one of the reasons NPP lost this election.

Lest the 'powers that be' forget:Galamsey was one of the reasons NPP lost this election.#ResetGalamsey#StopGalamseyNow#GalamseyEvil#GhanaAgainstGalamsey@gyaigyimii @Serwaa_Amihere @barkervogues pic.twitter.com/1c8U7cxGfX— Joe Jackson (@Joe_Jackson_GH) March 7, 2025

Speaking before Parliament on Thursday, February 20, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, reported a concerning rise in illegal small-scale mining activities within Ghana’s forest reserves. According to him, 44 reserves are currently under severe threat from heavily armed miners operating unlawfully.

Despite this challenge, the government has made significant progress in restoring the Shelter Belt, the largest of nine forest reserves that had been overtaken by illegal mining for nearly ten years.