The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Honourable Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has secured the support of the Dagbon Traditional Council in the fight against illegal mining, with a strong call for reforms in land administration and responsible resource management.

He made this known when he paid a courtesy call on the Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II, overlord of Dagbon, during his working tour in the Northern Region.

The Minister was accompanied by the Deputy Minister, Sulemana Yusif, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, and other senior officials from the Ministry.

Hon. Buah stressed the importance of working closely with traditional authorities, especially as northern Ghana emerges as a new frontier for gold and other mineral resources.

“We cannot tour this part of Ghana without seeking your blessings. These resources must be developed responsibly to benefit the people and protect our environment,” he said.

He assured the Dagbon Kingdom that lessons from past mining activities in other parts of the country would guide new developments in the north.

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon.  Sulemana Yusif, described the visit as a necessary step to formally engage the Yaa Naa and traditional authorities, emphasizing their critical role in land and resource governance.

Representative of the Yaa Naa welcomed the delegation and pledged support for Government initiatives, particularly efforts to curb illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.

“We will partner you in community mobilisation, environmental protection and resolving land disputes, but we expect zero tolerance for illegal mining,” he stated.

They also called for land tenure reforms that respect customary systems, protection of shea parklands, and policies that create jobs for local communities through responsible mining.