The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Honourable Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called for the support of traditional authorities in the fight against illegal mining and the promotion of responsible natural resource management.

He made the appeal when he paid a courtesy call on the Yagbonwura, overlord of the Gonja Kingdom in the Savannah Region, as part of his ongoing working tour.

The Minister was accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Sulemana Yusif, Directors from the Ministry, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, and the National Coordinator for the RCOMSDEP.

Addressing the palace, the Minister expressed appreciation for the warm reception and praised the leadership of the Yagbonwura for promoting unity and peaceful coexistence.

“We are here to seek your blessing and guidance as we engage communities in the northern sector. Your leadership in bringing people together is something we deeply admire”, he said.

Hon. Buah noted that the northern part of Ghana is emerging as a new growth area for the mining sector and stressed the need to balance resource exploitation with environmental protection.

“Mining is a legal business, but it must be done responsibly. We must protect our land and water bodies for future generations”, he emphasised.

He outlined Government’s plan to roll out the Responsible Cooperative Mining Programme to support youth engagement in legal mining while curbing illegal activities.

“If our young people want to mine, we will support them, train them, and guide them to do it the right way”, he added

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon.Sulemana Yusif in his opening remarks described the Yagbonwura as one of the most influential traditional leaders in Africa due to the vast land under his authority.

He explained that the visit was to formally engage the traditional authority on pressing land and mining issues affecting the region.

Yagbonwura Calls for Jobs, Regulation and Resource Mapping

Responding through his representatives, the Yagbonwura welcomed the delegation and commended Government’s efforts in managing natural resources and restoring degraded water bodies.

He highlighted the vast natural resource potential within the Gonja Kingdom, including gold, salt, limestone and possible oil deposits, and called for structured development to benefit local communities.

“We have a lot of natural resources on our land, but our people need support to harness them responsibly”, he said.

The overlord appealed for measures to regularise small-scale mining activities and provide alternative livelihoods for the youth.

“Our youth depend on these activities for survival. If you can support them with proper systems and opportunities, it will help the entire kingdom”, he noted.

He also requested comprehensive geological mapping of the area to identify and document resource deposits.

“We need a proper document that shows what resources we have and where they are, so investors can work with us transparently”, he added.

The Yagbonwura further pledged his full support to Government policies and reaffirmed his commitment to peace and cooperation.

Symbolic Gift to Strengthen Ties

The visit ended with the presentation of a symbolic gift from the Yagbonwura to the Minister—a white smock.

The gesture, according to palace elders, reflects the King’s desire for continued collaboration and strong relations between the traditional authority and the Government.

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