Deputy Interior Minister Ebenezer Terlarbi has justified the government’s strategy of deporting foreign nationals involved in illegal mining activities, locally referred to as galamsey, rather than pursuing lengthy prosecutions.

Speaking on JoyNews on Tuesday, April 8, Terlarbi acknowledged that while the policy has faced criticism, it remains the most practical option given the "realities on the ground."

He pointed to persistent delays in the judicial system, overcrowded prison facilities, and the complex logistics of managing large-scale arrests of foreign miners as key factors influencing the decision.

He explained, “we know when it comes to litigation in this country — dealing with our courts — it can sometimes be very frustrating. We have instances where people are arrested, and we prefer repatriating them rather than taking them through our courts.”

Terlarbi further noted that many foreign nationals, upon arrest, immediately demand trials, engage lawyers, and exploit legal technicalities, which tend to drag cases on for months or years.

“They have lawyers, which is their right, and they need to be proven guilty by our courts,” he emphasized, underscoring the difficulty of swiftly concluding such cases through normal judicial processes.

The government, he said, is seeking to balance the enforcement of mining laws with the practical challenges of maintaining an already overburdened legal and correctional system.

Meanwhile, security analyst Professor Kwasi Aning has criticised government’s new directive to arrest and deport foreign nationals involved in illegal mining without prosecuting them.

He warned that such a policy will embolden even more dangerous criminals and deepen public distrust in Ghana’s justice system.