Press Release
NCSSMAG Launches Anti-Galamsey Taskforce with Speedboat Deployment
NCSSMAG has inaugurated its Anti-Galamsey Taskforce, deploying personnel and speedboats across major mining zones to remove unlicensed operators from Ghana's rivers.
Ghana's Gold. Our Land. Our Future.
We are the voice of Ghana’s licensed small-scale miners — advocates for a sector that feeds millions, drives exports, and powers communities across the nation.
Who We Are
The National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana — NCSSMAG — is the foremost advocacy body for licensed, law-abiding small-scale miners operating across all sixteen regions of Ghana. We stand between our members and the forces that threaten their livelihoods: illegal competition, unfair enforcement, exploitative buyers, and the absence of a seat at the policy table.
We do not represent galamsey. We fight it. Our members are the licensed operators who follow the rules, pay their dues, rehabilitate their land, and build the local economies their communities depend on.
Read Our Full Story →2,000+
Licensed Miners Represented
16
Regions Covered
$8B+
ASM Export Value (H1 2025)
1M+
Livelihoods Supported
Sources: Ghana Gold Board (2025); Minerals Commission of Ghana. Statistics reflect the broader artisanal and
small-scale mining (ASM) sector.
Our Three Pillars
Legal Mining
We champion the rights of licensed operators and work to ensure that the distinction between legal and illegal mining is always recognised — in law, in enforcement, and in public discourse.
Environmental Responsibility
We are building the Environmental Restoration Task Force to rehabilitate rivers and water bodies damaged by irresponsible mining. Environmental protection and economic empowerment are not opposites.
Miner Advocacy
From the Ministry to the district taskforce, we ensure our members have representation where decisions are made. When licensed miners are wrongfully targeted, we act.
Executive Leadership
NCSSMAG is led by a committed team of individuals with deep roots in Ghana's small-scale mining communities. Our executive brings together field experience, policy knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of licensed miners and the health of Ghana's environment.
Michael Kwadwo Peprah
President, NCSSMAG
Michael Kwadwo Peprah has led NCSSMAG through some of the most consequential periods in Ghana's small-scale mining history. A recognised figure across mining communities in the Ashanti Region and beyond, Peprah has been at the forefront of the association's advocacy efforts — from direct engagement with government ministers and regulatory agencies to the launch of NCSSMAG's operational Anti-Galamsey Taskforce.
Under his leadership, NCSSMAG has endorsed GoldBod's gold purchasing framework, publicly condemned violence against miners and illegal operators alike, and established the association as a credible and independent voice for the sector — one that cooperates with lawful enforcement while standing firm against the mistreatment of innocent licensed operators.
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The fight against illegal mining cannot be won with violence and intimidation. We need long-term, sustainable solutions that respect the rights of small-scale miners while protecting the environment.Michael Kwadwo Peprah — President, NCSSMAG
Built by Miners. For Miners. For Ghana.
Ghana’s relationship with gold is ancient. Long before the colonial era, Ghanaian communities were mining, trading, and building civilisations on the wealth beneath their feet. NCSSMAG was founded on a straightforward belief: that the licensed small-scale miner deserves protection, representation, and a fair chance to build a sustainable livelihood.
Today, NCSSMAG operates across all sixteen regions of Ghana, representing thousands of licensed artisanal and small-scale miners who collectively contribute billions of dollars to Ghana’s gold export economy.
Our Mission
To protect, represent, and empower Ghana's licensed small-scale miners through advocacy and strategic engagement.
Our Vision
A Ghana where every small-scale miner operates legally, responsibly, and profitably.
Our Values
Integrity · Environmental Responsibility · Advocacy · Transparency · Collaboration · Justice
What We Do
NCSSMAG is more than an association — it is an active institution spanning advocacy, enforcement, legal assistance, environmental action, and capacity building.
Advocacy & Policy Engagement
Engaging the Ministry of Lands, Minerals Commission, GoldBod, and parliamentary committees to ensure licensed miners' interests shape policy.
Anti-Galamsey Enforcement
Operating our own Anti-Galamsey Taskforce with speedboats, destroying over 100 illegal Chanfang machines on Ghana's rivers.
Legal Support
When members' equipment is wrongfully seized, we intervene — guiding miners through documentation and engaging authorities.
Environmental Restoration
Our Environmental Restoration Task Force rehabilitates water bodies and forests damaged by irresponsible mining.
Capacity Building
Training licensed miners in modern techniques, environmental best practices, and regulatory compliance.
Market Access & Fair Pricing
Supporting GoldBod as the sole regulated gold purchaser — ending the 10-15% below-market exploitation by foreign buyers.
Join the Voice of Ghana's Licensed Miners
NCSSMAG membership is a statement. It says you mine legally, you operate responsibly, and you believe the sector's future depends on organisation and accountability.
Why Join NCSSMAG?
Ghana’s small-scale mining sector employs over one million people and supports the livelihoods of an estimated 4.5 million more. The artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector alone generated over USD 8 billion in export revenue in the first half of 2025. This sector deserves a strong, organised, and credible association fighting for it. That is NCSSMAG.
A Seat at the Table
NCSSMAG engages directly with the Minerals Commission, GoldBod, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and parliamentary committees. Your membership means your interests are represented in the rooms where decisions about your livelihood are made.
Legal Support & Equipment Protection
If your equipment is wrongfully seized during an anti-galamsey operation, NCSSMAG steps in. We guide you through the documentation process and engage authorities on your behalf. You should not lose your livelihood because you were caught in the wrong place at the right time.
Market Access Through GoldBod
NCSSMAG members are plugged into GoldBod's regulated gold purchasing framework — protecting you from exploitative buyers who have historically paid 10–15% below fair market rates. Your gold is worth what it is worth.
Environmental Task Force Participation
Join NCSSMAG's Environmental Restoration Task Force and be part of the solution. Help rehabilitate Ghana's damaged rivers and water bodies — and demonstrate that licensed miners are partners in environmental protection, not enemies of it.
Anti-Galamsey Enforcement
Illegal mining suppresses gold prices, damages land values, and tarnishes the reputation of everyone in the sector. NCSSMAG's taskforce actively removes illegal operators. As a member, you benefit from a cleaner, more regulated environment for legal operation.
Industry Intelligence & Updates
Regulatory changes. GoldBod pricing updates. New policies from the Ministry. Enforcement operation schedules. NCSSMAG members receive timely, accurate information that helps them operate with confidence and plan ahead.
Community & Solidarity
Mining is not a solitary pursuit. NCSSMAG connects you with a national network of licensed miners — people who understand your challenges, share your goals, and stand with you when it matters most.
Membership Categories
Individual Licensed Miner
Full advocacy representation, legal support access, and all member communications for individual licence holders.
Corporate / Company
Dedicated policy team engagement and priority representation in regulatory discussions for registered mining companies.
Associate Member
Industry updates and participation rights for service providers, researchers, and community stakeholders supporting legal mining.
How to Apply
1
Fill Out the Form
Complete the online membership application — takes about five minutes.
2
Application Review
Our secretariat confirms licensing status and eligibility.
3
Confirmation
Receive a call or email confirming receipt and next steps.
4
Submit Documents
Provide your valid mining licence and government-issued ID.
5
Complete Payment
Pay annual membership dues via indicated channels.
6
Welcome to NCSSMAG
Receive your official membership certificate and full access.
Latest News & Statements
Press releases, public statements, and developments shaping Ghana's mining sector.
Press Release
Over 100 Illegal Chanfang Machines Destroyed Along River Bankra
Working with the national Anti-Galamsey Taskforce, NCSSMAG members destroyed more than 100 Chanfang machines used for illegal mining along the River Bankra.
Public Statement
NCSSMAG Backs IGP Taskforce, Distances from Galamsey
In a formal statement, NCSSMAG unequivocally backed the operations of the Inspector-General of Police Taskforce on small-scale mining.
Industry Update
NCSSMAG Endorses GoldBod: Licensed Miners Deserve Fair Prices
NCSSMAG has voiced strong support for GoldBod's establishment as Ghana's sole regulated gold purchasing authority.
Are you a licensed small-scale miner?
Join thousands of licensed miners who have found a stronger voice through NCSSMAG.
Apply for MembershipReach the NCSSMAG Secretariat
Whether you are a licensed miner, journalist, government official, or community member — our door is open.
Office Address
NCSSMAG Secretariat, Kumasi, Ghana
Phone
+233 248775556
Email
info@ncssmag.org
Working Hours
Mon – Fri, 8:00am – 5:00pm
For Media & Press
For interview requests or copies of official statements, contact the NCSSMAG Communications Office. We respond to all media enquiries.
Licensed Miner — Need Help
If you are an NCSSMAG member whose equipment has been wrongfully seized during an enforcement operation, contact us immediately. Bring your valid mining licence, concession documents, and any documentation related to the seizure to our office, or submit them via the form on this page using the subject line "Equipment Retrieval Assistance."
Our team will review your case and engage the relevant authorities on your behalf. You mined legally. We will fight for your tools.
Championing Responsible, Sustainable, and Legal Small-Scale Mining in Ghana.
Partners & Affiliations
- Minerals Commission of Ghana
- Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod)
- Ministry of Lands & Natural Resources
- Ghana Police Service
- Blue Water Guards Initiative
- PMMC
© 2026 National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana (NCSSMAG). All rights reserved.