John Awuah: The Critical Absence of Effective CSOs in Ghana’s Galamsey Battle

In a powerful public statement, John Awuah, CEO of the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB), launched a scathing critique of Ghana’s Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) regarding their role in combating illegal mining (galamsey). His central question—”Where are the CSOs within the galamsey battle?”—resonates as a profound challenge to the nation’s watchdog institutions. This article dissects Awuah’s argument, contextualizes it within Ghana’s ongoing environmental crisis, and provides a structured analysis of why CSO engagement has faltered, what the true costs of inaction are, and how a meaningful, citizen-led movement might finally emerge.

Introduction: A Cry for Accountability in the Face of Existential Danger

Ghana’s battle against galamsey has evolved from a localized issue into a full-scale national emergency, threatening water resources, agricultural lands, public health, and the country’s international environmental reputation. Against this backdrop, John Awuah’s public frustration targets a perceived vacuum in sustained, impactful advocacy from the very organizations mandated to hold power accountable. He does not merely ask for more statements; he demands effective CSO intervention—action that translates to tangible results, not “empty noise stuffed with political patronage.” This introduction frames the galamsey crisis not just as an environmental issue, but as a test of Ghana’s democratic and civic resilience, where the silence or co-option of CSOs becomes a critical part of the problem.

Key Points: Unpacking the Critique

Awuah’s statement is dense with criticism and implicit questions. The following key points distill his argument:

Questionable CSO Legitimacy: He asserts Ghana lacks a “reputable CSO group” on the issue, implying a crisis of credibility and independence.
Misplaced Priorities: CSOs are accused of focusing on less urgent matters (like the KIA airport name trade) while the nation faces an “existential danger” from galamsey.
Failure of Method: The critique distinguishes between performative activism (press conferences) and genuine pressure that “pushes and says truth to power.”
Absence of Evidence: He demands proof of meaningful guidance or intervention from CSOs in the battle, suggesting their contributions are negligible.
Highlighting a Lone Voice: His mention of journalist Erastus Asare Donkor as “probably the one credible voice left” underscores a media-led, rather than CSO-led, narrative.
Scorn for Political Jargon: The long list of taskforces (Operation Vanguard, IMCIM, NAIMOS, etc.) is dismissed as a series of “political creations” designed for optics, not outcomes, representing “Complete Non-performance.”
Moral Urgency over Economic Metrics: He rejects the government’s focus on gold export revenues, asking if dollars can “bring the DEAD” back from pollution-related illnesses.
Call to Citizens: The final hashtag, #CitizensMustRiseAgainstGalamsey, shifts responsibility to the public, implying CSOs have abdicated their leadership role.

Background: Understanding Galamsey and Ghana’s Institutional Landscape

What is Galamsey?

Galamsey is a Ghanaian portmanteau of “gather them and sell,” referring to the practice of illegal artisanal and small-scale mining, often using rudimentary, hazardous methods. While artisanal mining is legal with a license, galamsey operates outside regulatory frameworks, leading to severe environmental degradation. Miners, sometimes with foreign (particularly Chinese) backing, use mercury and cyanide to extract gold, poisoning waterways like the Pra, Ankobra, and Birim rivers. The activity is driven by poverty, unemployment, lucrative gold prices, and, critics argue, corruption and political protection.

The Proliferation of Taskforces: A History of Reactive Commands

Awuah’s list is not exaggerated. Since the early 2010s, successive Ghanaian governments have launched numerous operations to curb galamsey:

Operation Vanguard (2017): A joint military-police taskforce under the Akufo-Addo administration, initially showing promise but later accused of corruption and selective enforcement.
Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM): A high-level committee chaired by the then-Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
Operation Halt Galamsey (2021): A more militarized approach deploying naval personnel to riverine areas.
Galamstop Taskforce: Another initiative focused on machinery destruction.

The constant churn of taskforces, often with overlapping mandates and short lifespans, has created a cycle of temporary disruption without systemic reform. This pattern fuels Awuah’s claim that they are “political creations” for show, not sustained solutions.

The Expected Role of CSOs in a Crisis

In a healthy democracy, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)—including environmental NGOs, community advocacy groups, professional associations, and faith-based organizations—play several critical roles during an environmental health crisis like galamsey:

Watchdog & Monitor: Documenting violations, exposing corruption, and independently verifying government claims.
Public Educator: Raising awareness about health risks (mercury poisoning, waterborne diseases) and long-term economic costs beyond immediate gold revenue.
Policy Advocate: Proposing evidence-based legislation, pushing for transparency in mining licensing, and advocating for community land rights.
Community Mobilizer: Organizing affected communities, providing legal support, and building grassroots resistance.
Legal Actor: Initiating public interest litigation to enforce environmental laws and hold polluters accountable.

Awuah’s charge is that Ghana’s CSOs have collectively failed to perform these functions with the requisite rigor and independence on the galamsey issue.

Analysis: Why Have CSOs Struggled to Lead on Galamsey?

The absence Awuah describes is likely not due to a lack of registered NGOs but a failure of strategic impact, cohesion, and perceived integrity. Several interconnected factors explain this.

1. The Co-option and Politicization of Civil Society

Ghana’s CSO landscape is not immune to political influence. Some organizations rely on government funding or contracts, creating a conflict of interest that stifles criticism. Others are perceived as partisan, aligned with specific political parties. This erodes their universal moral authority. When the fight against galamsey becomes a political football—with opposition parties criticizing the government’s efforts and the government defending its record—CSOs that are seen as aligned with either side lose credibility as neutral arbiters of the public good. Awuah’s phrase “political patronage” suggests some CSOs may even benefit from the status quo or from aligning with powerful figures involved in the mining economy.

2. Resource Constraints and the “NGO-ization” of Activism

Effective advocacy, especially against powerful economic interests linked to gold mining and political elites, requires significant resources: for field investigations, legal fees, sustained media campaigns, and community organizing. Many Ghanaian CSOs operate on shoestring budgets with donor funding tied to specific, often short-term projects. This leads to “projectitis”—activism that is reactive, grant-driven, and fails to build a long-term, mass-based movement. The energy is dissipated across multiple, disconnected initiatives rather than focused on a single, existential threat like galamsey.

3. The Fragmentation of the Environmental Movement

Environmental issues in Ghana are addressed by a fragmented array of groups: water advocacy (like the WaterAid partners), forest conservation ( Forest Watch Ghana), climate justice groups, and community-specific organizations. There is no unifying, powerful national coalition that has made galamsey its singular, non-negotiable flagship issue. This fragmentation dilutes pressure and allows the government to play one group against another or to ignore them collectively. A unified front under a banner like #StopGalamseyNow, with clear demands and a coordinated strategy, has been notably absent.

4. Fear of Reprisal and Security Concerns

Galamsey operators are often linked to armed individuals, “land guards,” and corrupt officials. Investigating and exposing them carries real physical risk. Journalists like Erastus Asare Donkor have faced threats and attacks. CSO staff and community activists have been intimidated, assaulted, or even killed in mining regions. Without robust state protection and a strong public shield, many organizations may practice self-censorship or avoid the most dangerous hotspots, limiting their on-ground impact and reporting.

5. The Over-Reliance on Government-Led Taskforces

There is a historical tendency in Ghana for civil society to rally behind government initiatives, however flawed, rather than maintaining a stance of critical independence. When a new taskforce like Operation Halt is launched, some CSOs may issue supportive statements, hoping to influence from within. This can create a perception of being part of the establishment’s solution, absolving them of the need to build an external, citizen-driven pressure movement. Awuah sees this as collusion in a cycle of “non-performance.”

6. The Communication Gap: From Technical Reports to Mass Mobilization

Many CSOs produce excellent research reports on water pollution, land degradation, and health impacts. However, these often remain in academic or donor circles. They fail to translate complex data into compelling narratives that resonate with market women, farmers, and urban youth—the broad coalition needed for a “citizens must rise” movement. The communication strategy has not matched the urgency of the crisis. In contrast, the media, particularly journalists like Asare Donkor, bring visceral, on-the-ground imagery and testimony directly into living rooms, creating immediate emotional and political pressure.

Practical Advice: Pathways to Effective Citizen and CSO Action

Moving beyond critique, what would effective action look like? Awuah’s hashtag implies the answer lies with citizens, but organized CSOs are essential to channel that energy. Here is a practical framework for meaningful intervention.

For Civil Society Organizations:

Form a Unified Coalition: Create a permanent, well-resourced National Coalition Against Galamsey with a clear charter, rotating leadership, and pooled funding. This coalition should include environmental lawyers, public health experts, geologists, community leaders, and media partners.
Adopt a “Name and Shame” Public Dashboard: Develop a publicly accessible, regularly updated digital map and database identifying: active galamsey sites (via satellite/social media verification), implicated politicians and chiefs, companies supplying machinery/chemicals, and court cases involving offenders. Transparency is a powerful tool.
Launch Strategic Litigation: File lawsuits against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for dereliction of duty, against mining companies for damages, and against traditional authorities for illegal land sales. Use the courts to force the enforcement of laws like the Minerals and Mining Act and the Environmental Assessment Regulations.
Focus on the “Enablers”: Shift focus from the foot soldiers to the supply chain: fuel distributors, chemical importers, heavy equipment sellers, and financiers. Target the economic infrastructure that makes galamsey profitable.
Build a Grassroots Verification Network: Train and equip community monitors in affected regions (Western North, Ashanti, Eastern) to gather evidence safely. Provide them with encrypted reporting tools and legal support.
Reframe the Economic Narrative: Commission and aggressively promote independent studies on the true cost of galamsey: healthcare costs from mercury/cyanide poisoning, lost agricultural GDP, water treatment expenses, and tourism revenue loss. This must counter the government’s simplistic “gold export revenue” metric.
Engage the Diaspora: Mobilize Ghanaian diaspora groups, who are often more financially capable and politically detached, to fund advocacy, lobby foreign governments/embassies, and amplify the message internationally.

For Concerned Citizens and Community Groups:

Document and Report: Use smartphones to geotag and photograph illegal operations. Report systematically to the coalition’s dashboard, not just to oft-ignored state agencies.
Electoral Pressure: Make galamsey a decisive, non-negotiable issue in every election—local assembly, parliamentary, and presidential. Vote only for candidates with a verifiable, actionable plan to stop galamsey, not just rhetoric. Hold them accountable between elections.
Consumer Boycotts: Organize boycotts of businesses (hotels, jewelry shops, fuel stations) known to source from or support galamsey networks. Economic pressure on the periphery can be effective.
Support “Alternative Livelihood” Heroes: Identify, celebrate, and support community members who have successfully transitioned from galamsey to sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism, or legal small-scale mining. Create positive, replicable models.
Leverage Faith-Based Platforms: As Awuah mentions, Pastors and Imams have immense reach. Advocate from pulpits and mosques for environmental stewardship as a moral and religious duty, framing galamsey as a sin against creation and future generations.
Use Social Media Strategically: Move beyond hashtags to coordinated digital campaigns: drone footage analysis, infographics on health impacts, live-streamed community dialogues. Target influencers and international environmental networks.