The persistent and destructive issue of illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, continues to be a focal point of national debate in Ghana, with recent discussions highlighting both political accusations and calls for fundamental institutional reform. The complexities surrounding the fight against galamsey have been brought to the forefront by prominent figures offering distinct perspectives on the challenge.

Kwadwo Poku, an energy analyst and member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has directly accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of actively sabotaging efforts to combat illegal mining during former President Akufo-Addo’s tenure. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on September 27, 2025, Poku alleged that the NDC, while in opposition and campaigning for power, systematically undermined anti-galamsey initiatives championed by the NPP. He recalled former President Akufo-Addo's strong commitment to eradicating galamsey, even staking his presidency on the fight. However, Poku claimed that leading up to the 2020 elections, the NDC campaigned in mining communities, promising not to halt mining activities as the NPP had done, and criticizing measures like 'Operation Vanguard'. He further asserted that this strategy continued into the 2024 political landscape, with the NDC allegedly telling communities they would allow miners to operate as they wished if voted into power. This alleged political interference, according to Poku, significantly impacted the NPP, leading to the loss of several parliamentary seats in mining areas during the 2020 elections. He cited Upper Denkyera West, a historically NPP stronghold and a heavy mining area, as an example, attributing its loss in 2020 to galamsey operatives allegedly bribing people to vote against the NPP.

Offering a different, yet complementary, perspective on the national crisis, Professor Sharif Mahmud Khalid, Economic Advisor at the Office of the Vice President, emphasized that the battle against illegal mining is doomed to fail unless every institution in the country fully embraces its constitutional mandate. During his appearance on Joy News’ Newsfile, Professor Khalid rejected the common belief that the entire burden of the fight rests solely on the Head of State, describing this as a critical miscalculation. He asserted that the fight against galamsey is a shared responsibility, requiring the active participation of every individual and institution. Professor Khalid advocated for a shift in focus from political figures to the establishment of robust and lasting institutional capacity, rather than viewing the presidency as the sole solution to this multifaceted problem. While acknowledging the President's authority to issue directives and deploy measures such as the military, he stressed that such actions are insufficient in isolation. The long-term sustainability of the anti-galamsey campaign, he argued, hinges entirely on the strength and efficacy of these institutions.

Professor Khalid meticulously identified various points of failure across different sectors, calling for accountability from all institutions legally charged with enforcing environmental laws and regulations. He underscored that the fight against galamsey transcends political affiliations, defining it as a