By Joseph Dwamena
I continue to believe that because the problems surrounding illegal mining, sometimes referred to as galamsey, are so complex, they shouldn’t have been politicized in the first place. The dishonest inclusion of former President Akufo-Addo by Member of Parliament Ningo Prampram and Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Sam George, was regrettable.
I agree that the former Akufo-Addo administration should have performed better in this all-important fight, but since a new government has taken over, the least we can do is give this threat political overtones. The innumerable criticisms leveled at former President Akufo-Addo and his supporters—some of which were legitimate, while others were not—indicate that the majority of Ghanaians are very troubled by the illicit mining.
Operation this Operation that
Since the beginning of these illicit mining operations, what have we not done? We have had one minister after another, committee after committee, taskforce after taskforce, seizing and burning excavators, operation after operation and arrests after arrests, but galamsey is still going strong.
All these high cost interventions have amounted to nothing. This is a blatant sign that we are most likely not doing anything correctly or perhaps not employing the best strategy to address this improper behavior. Furthermore, we have a tendency to politicize it by claiming that it is an NDC or NPP issue rather than depoliticizing it and taking a comprehensive view.
It is somewhat disheartening that the battle against illegal mining still appears to be lost after all these years. There is no indication whatsoever, and our forest reserves and water bodies are being destroyed without consequence.
It is true that foreigners, particularly Chinese, are involved in the galamsey industry, but we must look further and target the powerful individuals who are responsible. The true beneficiaries are them. We only need to name and shame them rather than pursue them.
Time bomb
Water turbidity levels of 14,000 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units), which is far higher than the 2 000 NTU needed for proper treatment, were frequently recorded by the Ghana Water Company Limited’s management as a result of illicit mining.
The worrying aspect is that by 2030, Ghana, with all of its lakes and rivers, would need to import water. This is quite serious, especially considering how quickly people are destroying forests and waterways.
In mining villages around the nation, people are experiencing health problems like cancer, birth deformities, and kidney failure as a result of the pollution from Galamsey.
The Forestry Commission revealed in 2024 that illicit mining had destroyed 4 726 hectares of forest land, including numerous significant reserves, and had impacted approximately 34 of the nation’s 288 forest reserves.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, reiterated last month that illicit mining had caused the country to lose 44 percent of its reserves as of 2025. This indicates that ten reserves are demolished annually.
Nearly all three of Ghana’s water basin systems are in danger. Cocoa plantations have been converted into mining sites, complete with exposed pits and other deadly traps. After unlawful mining leaves the fields barren, the environment is also in danger.
Responsible mining
It is important to note that, as a nation, we need to take very serious steps to stop this problem before we lose all of our waterways and forest reserves.
In my opinion, the government bears the most of this responsibility as it is responsible for implementing the rules that control the mining industry. It’s too much lip service.
Even though small-scale mining cannot be completely prohibited, we can make sure that it is conducted in a way that supports local communities and the economy without endangering the environment.
I shall urge our esteemed traditional leaders to spearhead the defense against this threat in order to protect our water resources and forest reserves.
Seeing some of our paramount chiefs openly de-tool sub-chiefs who have been discovered to have benefited from illegal mining is pretty energizing. I hope other chiefs will follow suit since this is undoubtedly the best course of action.
To help combat it, our security authorities must also cooperate with other state agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ghana Maritime Authority.
We have frequently heard about our security guards stealing money from these galamsey kingpins in order to provide them with protection. As quickly as possible, this needs to end.
Together, they can monitor and intercept dangerous substances (like mercury) used in illicit mining, safeguarding aquatic habitats and guaranteeing safer drinking water for people downstream.
However, the ongoing politicization must end until we defeat illegal mining, which I fervently hope we accomplish. As much as we would like to use it to make quick political points, we must consider the bigger picture and how our selfishness will leave a damaged country for future generations.
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