Stop deporting illegal miners – Ashigbey tells Interior Minister

Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, is urging Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak to scrap the policy of deporting foreign nationals caught in illegal mining.

Speaking on Channel One TV, Ashigbey slammed the approach as both legally flawed and discriminatory, noting that while Ghanaians are prosecuted and jailed for the same offence, foreigners are simply deported.

“We’re telling them Ghana is open for the illegality... we’ll even pay your transport and let you enjoy your loot,” he said.

Ashigbey believes such leniency invites more foreigners to exploit Ghana’s resources with impunity.

He called on the minister to reconsider and treat all offenders equally under Ghana’s laws, stating, “It is so wrong. I’m hoping the minister will come back and say he got it wrong.”