Sammy Gyamfi Has Done Nothing Wrong – GNASSM

The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has come to the defense of the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, regarding his recent comments about illegal mining. In a statement released on October 23, 2026, GNASSM clarified that Gyamfi was promoting the formalisation of eligible unlicensed miners, rather than endorsing illegal mining practices.

The Association's General Secretary, Godwin Amarh, authored the statement and emphasized that the comments were made during a stakeholder engagement program involving over 1,500 mine owners. This assembly was organized jointly by GNASSM and GoldBod at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). GNASSM highlighted that Gyamfi's remarks focused on the government's initiative to register and regularize unlicensed miners who were not operating in restricted areas, such as water bodies, forest reserves, and designated red zones.

The organization stressed that formalizing eligible operators would bring their operations into a lawful and regulated framework, rather than legitimizing illegal mining activities. GNASSM expressed concern over the dissemination of a single video clip of Gyamfi's statements, which they believed created a false impression of his stance on the issue.

The Association urged both media outlets and the general public to view the complete recording of the engagement before making judgments about Gyamfi's comments. Furthermore, GNASSM reaffirmed its backing for the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Formalisation and Financing Support Programme, which aims to enhance regulatory compliance, bolster environmental protection, and offer miners sustainable livelihoods.

The association asserted that formalization, paired with financial access and stricter regulatory oversight, could help diminish illegal mining, environmental degradation, and contribute to the country's economic growth. Lastly, GNASSM called for an unbiased approach to combating illegal mining, stressing that safeguarding Ghana's forests, rivers, and land resources should be a collective national endeavor, transcending political differences.