Daryl Bosu, the Deputy Director of A Rocha Ghana, has voiced significant concerns regarding the Ghanaian government's strategies and commitment to combating illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. His criticisms highlight perceived inadequacies in both practical initiatives and legal enforcement, suggesting a lack of measurable impact and a weakening of existing legislative frameworks.

One primary point of contention raised by Mr. Bosu is the effectiveness of the government’s Blue Water Guards initiative. This program, launched by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, was designed to train thousands of personnel to provide round-the-clock monitoring and protection of rivers and other water resources, aiming to restore bodies polluted by galamsey. However, Bosu, speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, described the initiative's impact as limited, stating he is "failing to see their impact when it comes to fighting galamsey" and observing little visible improvement in water body protection. He further argued that critical resources allocated to the Blue Water Guards could be more effectively channelled to established central institutions like the Police, the Forestry Commission, and the Minerals Commission for stronger enforcement.

Beyond the Blue Water Guards, Mr. Bosu has also sharply criticized the government's approach to enforcing anti-galamsey laws, specifically citing the watering down of key provisions under Act 995. This Act was established to outline the prosecution of individuals involved in illegal mining activities, including foreign nationals. Bosu contends that instead of strictly enforcing these legal mandates through prosecution within Ghana, authorities have in several instances opted for the deportation of foreign offenders. He lamented that while the previous administration had put in place robust provisions in Act 995, the current government has decided to "water down every provision... particularly on ensuring that foreigners are prosecuted before deportation."

According to Mr. Bosu, such practices reflect a fundamental lack of full commitment to the fight against galamsey. He stressed that these actions undermine the spirit of the legislation and continue to allow for the devastating impact of illegal mining on the country's water bodies, forests, and the livelihoods of its citizens. He urged a comprehensive reassessment of current programs and called for a more consistent, law-driven enforcement strategy, emphasizing that only a firm and unwavering application of existing laws would yield lasting results in addressing the severe environmental menace posed by galamsey activities.