Civil society organisation Democracy Hub has filed a lawsuit at the High Court in Accra, challenging the government’s policy of deporting foreign nationals involved in illegal mining without prosecuting them in Ghanaian courts.
The suit lists the Minister for the Interior, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), and the Attorney-General as defendants.
Democracy Hub contends that the deportation policy contravenes Section 99 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which requires that individuals engaged in illegal mining — popularly known as galamsey — be prosecuted under Ghanaian law.
The group claims that over 100 foreign nationals have been deported for their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities without undergoing trial.
In response, the Interior Ministry has defended the government’s actions, stating that the deportation strategy is not intended to show leniency or offer preferential treatment to foreign nationals.
Rather, it is aimed at protecting the national interest and preventing further abuse of Ghana’s legal processes.
