Galamsey fight to intensify in 2026 — John Dumelo assures Ghanaians on food security
Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has announced that the government will step up its fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, in 2026, with tighter monitoring mechanisms aimed at protecting Ghana’s food security.
According to him, interventions being rolled out by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources are making steady progress. He, however, acknowledged that galamsey continues to pose a serious threat to agricultural output, especially in communities where illegal mining activities are rampant.
Dumelo assured Ghanaians that food produced in the country remains safe, noting that authorities are scaling up measures to curb the harmful effects of galamsey on farmlands.
“Galamsey has been a thorn in our flesh over the last couple of years, but we trust the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to tackle the issue. We’ve had several meetings with the Minister, and he has assured us that everything is under control. There’s no cause for alarm. By 2026, we will confront galamsey head-on, especially in cocoa-growing areas that are being destroyed,” he stated.
The Deputy Minister made these remarks on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, while inspecting ongoing road reconstruction works in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency. He described the project as evidence of his collaboration with residents and his resolve to drive development in the area.
He further pledged that from 2026, he would intensify efforts to ensure constituents benefit fully from the mandate given to him.
“One of my main campaign promises was to complete most of the road projects in Ayawaso West Wuogon, and this project is no different. MPs don’t construct roads directly, but we lobby for them. It’s a partnership between the community and myself to make Ayawaso West one of the best constituencies. My first year has been okay, but from 2026, I’m stepping up to deliver even more,” he said.
Touching on the Feed Ghana Project, Dumelo noted that effective implementation could transform Ghana into a major food production hub on the continent, increase exports, and significantly cut down food imports.
He also revealed plans to drastically reduce poultry imports within the next three years, alongside substantial investments in irrigation systems to support year-round farming.
“We want to ensure all-year-round farming is consistent with our agricultural policy. By 2026, we will construct more processing centres to address post-harvest losses and stabilize food supply,” he explained.
The Deputy Minister concluded by urging Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to take advantage of opportunities within the agricultural sector, describing it as a key driver of economic growth and national development.
Source: 3news
