Illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, in Ghana represents a profound and multifaceted crisis driven primarily by greed and intensified by the escalating global price of gold. Discussions, notably on Saturday, April 25, among various experts and stakeholders have illuminated the severe environmental, social, and economic consequences, alongside diverse perspectives on the effectiveness of current interventions and proposed solutions.

Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia, the National Coordinator of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (RCOMSDEP), identified greed as the core driver of galamsey. She explained that a need to diagnose the problem revealed this pervasive greed, with many individuals pursuing illegal mining due to perceived quick economic benefits. This pursuit is further fueled by the skyrocketing price of gold, which has increased by over $2,000 per ounce, making illegal mining an attractive, albeit destructive, livelihood opportunity for many. Mawuenyefia warned that this behavior continually undermines national efforts to sanitize the mining sector and protect natural resources.

Private legal practitioner Kwame Akuffo underscored the severe implications of galamsey, warning that the rampant destruction of Ghana’s water bodies could lead to future conflicts over access to clean water, constituting an “existential threat” to the right to life. He characterized the widespread pollution and depletion of shared natural resources as a “tragedy of the commons,” emphasizing that the government is already incurring significant financial burdens to treat polluted water. Akuffo criticized the national response as weak and lacking the urgency it deserves, attributing the worsening situation to poor leadership and a failure to protect citizens against this menace. He stressed that a lack of decisive policy action allows greed to flourish.

Adding to the call for stronger measures, Kwame Akuffo advocated for a shift from slow and ineffective strategies to more aggressive and decisive action. He argued that the current “Presbyterian approach” is inadequate and that Ghana can no longer afford such leniency when lives are at stake. Specifically, Akuffo, identified as a lawyer from Akropong-Akuapem, called for an Act of Parliament to authorize the use of lethal force against illegal miners operating in forest and water bodies. He proposed deploying surveillance drones to monitor designated areas, with enforcement measures, including potential elimination on the spot, for those who disregard warnings, framing galamsey as a national security and public health emergency.

However, Daryl Bosu, Deputy Director of A Rocha Ghana, contended that Ghana’s efforts to combat galamsey are failing due to a critical lack of coordination among state agencies. While coordination may exist “on paper,” the strategic and outcome failures are significant, based on fieldwork across affected regions. Bosu highlighted continued destruction of forests and water bodies, widespread impunity with illegal mining visible along major roads and near police commands in towns like Kyebi, and delayed responses from central authorities. He criticized government decisions that have weakened provisions in the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995), particularly concerning the prosecution of foreigners and facilitators. Bosu called for a more decentralized approach, empowering district and regional security agencies, and channeling resources to existing institutions like the police, Forestry Commission, and Minerals Commission.

Despite these criticisms, RCOMSDEP National Coordinator Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia reiterated that the government has recorded "significant gains" in the fight against galamsey. She described the approach, including that of the Mahama administration, as holistic, structured, and multi-dimensional, combining regulation, community engagement, and alternative livelihood programmes. This approach aims to balance enforcement with economic opportunities, making the fight more sustainable through collective efforts involving government, civil society, and local communities. Mawuenyefia emphasized the need to consolidate these gains and sustain interventions.

The societal repercussions of galamsey extend to vital community functions and religious practices. Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, warned that extensive pollution of water bodies has disrupted traditional water baptism in some mining communities, necessitating the use of synthetic rubber pools. Furthermore, the destruction of farmlands and water bodies is severely weakening local economies, particularly in farming and fishing communities already facing climate-related pressures, thus impacting livelihoods and contributing to broader socio-economic instability.