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Oliver Barker-Vormawor, convener of the Fix the Country Movement, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to revoke all 2,000 mining licenses issued during the tenure of former President Nana Akufo-Addo. Barker-Vormawor also called for an immediate moratorium on the issuance of new mining licenses, citing concerns over environmental degradation and the potential long-term ecological damage caused by unchecked mining activities.
His demands come in response to recent data from the Ghana Mining Repository, which revealed that over 100 mining-related licenses were issued in the final days of the Akufo-Addo administration. According to the report, 102 out of 103 licenses granted in 2025 were approved between January 1 and January 6, just before President Mahama’s swearing-in. Only one license has been issued under the current government.
The licenses include 21 small-scale mining permits, prospecting licenses, and mining support services licenses, bringing the total number of active mining licenses in Ghana to 2,127. Barker-Vormawor described the situation as an “ecological clusterfuck,” warning that the unchecked issuance of licenses poses a severe threat to the environment and future generations.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, Barker-Vormawor criticized the Akufo-Addo administration for what he termed a reckless disregard for environmental sustainability. He wrote, “The disaster of Nana Addo’s regime, the worst this country has ever seen, manages to issue over 2,000 mining licenses to cronies in four years. Including 103 after they lost the election. Creating an ecological disaster for this generation and the next. And we sit down and watch?”
He further emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Just saying ‘oh wow’ and moving on is not the appropriate response of a people at risk of having to import drinking water soon. The President must revoke all those licenses and put a moratorium on new licenses. If we can burn excavators, we can revoke licenses.”
Barker-Vormawor also announced plans for a protest on March 6, under the hashtag #StopGalamsey, to demand a reset in Ghana’s relationship with the environment. His call to action underscores growing public concern over the devastating impact of illegal and poorly regulated mining activities, particularly on water bodies and arable land.
The Fix the Country Movement has been at the forefront of advocating for systemic reforms in Ghana, and Barker-Vormawor’s latest demand reflects the group’s commitment to addressing environmental and governance issues. As the debate over mining licenses intensifies, many Ghanaians are watching to see how the Mahama administration will respond to these calls for accountability and environmental preservation.
Source: GhanaFeed.Com