Decentralize Mining License Acquisition to Curb Galamsey – Amenfi East NYA Boss
Amenfi East NYA Director Nana Odeefour Boadi has urged government to decentralize mining license acquisition, arguing it will curb illegal mining and empower the youth.
Evans Kweku Oboafi Junior HARDROCK 
The Municipal Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA) in Amenfi East, Nana Odeefour Boadi, has appealed to government to decentralize the acquisition of mining licenses, describing it as a crucial measure in the fight against illegal mining, widely known as galamsey.
Speaking to journalists, Nana Boadi dismissed the notion that unemployment alone drives illegal mining. Instead, he pointed to the bureaucratic and centralized licensing system, which, he argued, discourages many from pursuing legal avenues and forces them into galamsey.
NYA’s Role in Local Mining Boards
He proposed that the government should include the NYA on local mining boards at the district level to help monitor and regulate activities.
“The NYA works directly with the youth and can offer crucial insights and support in tackling illegal mining from the grassroots,” he said.
Mining as a Lucrative but Mismanaged Industry
Describing mining as a highly profitable industry, Nana Boadi stressed the need for the state to make it more accessible and attractive to the youth through formal and well-regulated channels.
“If the government streamlines the process and opens it up to more young people, they will choose legal mining over illegal ventures,” he noted.
On Calls for a State of Emergency
Reacting to recent demands for a state of emergency to combat illegal mining, he cautioned that such measures may only breed tension without addressing the root causes.
“Declaring a state of emergency won’t solve the problem. It may only create tension without providing lasting solutions,” he warned.
A Call for Responsible Mining
Instead, Nana Boadi advocated for responsible and sustainable mining practices, supported by education, monitoring, and local participation.
He concluded by reiterating that decentralizing mining license acquisition and involving youth-focused institutions in mining governance would reduce galamsey while empowering the youth to contribute meaningfully to national development.
