A Tax for Galamsey: We’ve gotten to a point where brute force must be applied – Elikem Kotoko

Deputy Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Elikem Kotoko, has suggested that Ghana may have reached a critical point where the use of tougher measures, including brute force, may be necessary to address illegal mining (galamsey).

Speaking during a JoyNews national dialogue on illegal mining on Thursday, Mr Kotoko, who is also a spokesperson of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), said the fight against the canker must be strengthened with decisive action to prevent further degradation of forests.

“There has been concern about the use of brute force, but I feel that we’ve gotten to that point where that must be applied to serve as a major deterrence,” he said.

His comment comes after a JoyNews Hotline Documentary, which revealed that some district assemblies in mining communities are collecting fees from operators of banned mining equipment, a practice described as a “galamsey tax” system.

Mr Kotoko noted that beyond security interventions, the judiciary also has a significant role to play in ensuring that culprits do not escape punishment.

He commended the Chief Justice for measures aimed at improving the efficiency of the courts, particularly in handling galamsey and corruption-related cases.

He referenced the extension of court sittings beyond regular hours, with hearings now expected to continue up to 6:30 pm on working days, as a step in the right direction.

Mr Kotoko further called for the adoption of technology in judicial processes to enhance prosecutions and reduce delays.

“Maybe in the time to come, we should see how we can employ technology more, even in our court proceedings, to make sure that there is a need for more prosecutions,” he added.

He stressed that stronger enforcement would send a clear message that no one is above the law.
“People must know that they cannot go scot-free. It doesn’t matter who I am,” he warned.

He also pointed to ongoing land and environmental reclamation efforts as an important aspect of the fight, describing it as a major issue that deserves sustained public attention.