Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has called on the judiciary to hand down custodial sentences to public officials and politicians found guilty of participating in illegal mining activities, known locally as galamsey.
Speaking at the Annual Chief Justice Mentoring Programme held at the forecourt of the Supreme Court in Accra, Mr. Iddrisu stressed that the fight against galamsey requires the collective efforts of all arms of government, not just the executive branch.
“We need to elevate and up our game. The Executive and the President alone cannot succeed in fighting galamsey. We need the judiciary to stand side by side in solidarity,” he said.
He urged judges to act decisively if evidence of wrongdoing is found, emphasizing the importance of deterrence. “Should the court find any good evidence on any public official or any politician involved in it, my Lords don’t hesitate to exercise the gavel and punish adequately so that it becomes deterrent for the rest of our society,” he stated.
The mentoring programme, held under the theme “Advocating Greener Sustainable Justice: The Environment and Justice,” brought together students from eleven schools in the Greater Accra and Western Regions, as well as members of the Orange Girls groups from Accra and Kumasi and participants from the United Nations Youth Association.
Minister Iddrisu encouraged young people to support environmental protection, highlighting the consequences of illegal mining. “Galamsey is destroying water bodies; even the quality of our cocoa has been compromised. Preserve the environment,” he said. He added that safeguarding the environment is not just a civic duty but increasingly a legal obligation, emphasizing Ghana’s need to succeed in its anti-galamsey efforts.
The Minister commended Chief Justice Paul Baffoe‑Bonnie and his predecessors for strengthening the mentoring initiative, noting that it had demystified the judicial process for young people and inspired them to value public service. He encouraged students to take their studies seriously and uphold integrity and patriotism, emphasizing that exposure to legal professionals helps build confidence and civic awareness.
Professor Justice Olivia Anku‑Tsede, Chair of the Mentoring Committee, also spoke on the vital link between environmental sustainability and justice, particularly in light of the galamsey menace. She described illegal mining as “a threat to our national heritage, our public health, laws, and the very future of our communities.”
Prof. Anku‑Tsede highlighted the environmental devastation caused by galamsey, including polluted rivers, disappearing forests, and destroyed farmlands, warning that inaction would leave the next generation with barren lands, contaminated water, and weakened institutions.
She stressed that combating illegal mining requires collective effort and active engagement from the youth, who are the future custodians of Ghana’s resources and institutions. “Our youth must understand that sustainability is not a slogan… it is a responsibility,” she said.
The programme also celebrated the establishment of Justice Clubs in schools, which the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service will continue to support as a means of fostering civic responsibility and environmental consciousness among students.
