Kwame Jantuah, a member of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) board and the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has warned that illegal mining could threaten Ghana’s plans to start onshore oil drilling next year.
Speaking on Asaase Radio’s The Forum, Jantuah said unchecked galamsey is spreading into areas earmarked for oil exploration and could contaminate potential drilling sites.
“We’ve identified oil seepages in the north and south, and drilling is expected next year. But if those blocs are galamsey-laden, it will affect the country’s oil revenue,” he said.
Jantuah urged the government to impose a temporary ban on small-scale mining to restructure the sector sustainably, warning that polluted soils and rivers could jeopardize billions in potential oil income.
“If we don’t manage galamsey properly, it will threaten all our natural resources, from gold to oil,” he cautioned.
Ghana, a top gold producer, has discovered several onshore oil seepages in the Northern and Western regions, but illegal mining continues to destroy farmlands, forests, and waterways, raising concerns among experts and civil society groups.
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