‘A Tax for Galamsey’: PleasureNews Petitions President Mahama Following Investigative Documentary

Accra, Ghana – In a bold move that has captured national attention, the media organization PleasureNews has formally petitioned President John Dramani Mahama for decisive presidential intervention. This action follows the release of its undercover documentary, ‘A Tax for Galamsey’, which presents alleged evidence of a parallel, state-sanctioned taxation system protecting and profiting from illegal mining (galamsey) operations in the Amansie Central District. The petition, delivered on February 9, 2026, demands immediate accountability and systemic reform to combat what is described as an institutionalized extortion network.

Introduction: An Investigative Documentary Ignites a National Scandal

The fight against illegal mining (galamsey) in Ghana has long been a critical environmental and governance challenge. However, a new dimension has been exposed by PleasureNews’s investigative journalism. Their documentary, ‘A Tax for Galamsey’, alleges not just the existence of illegal operations, but their active facilitation and monetization by local state institutions. The central accusation: public officials are systematically taxing, receipting, and protecting illegal miners, transforming environmental destruction into a structured revenue stream. This has prompted PleasureNews to directly petition the presidency, arguing that the anti-galamsey campaign is being fundamentally undermined from within by corrupt practices. The situation raises profound questions about state integrity, environmental enforcement, and the rule of law in Ghana’s resource management sectors.

Key Points: The Core Allegations and Demands

The petition and documentary present a stark narrative. Here are the essential takeaways:

• Systemic Extortion Racket: Evidence suggests the Amansie Central District Assembly and a dedicated task force, allegedly under the District Chief Executive’s (DCE) direction, are imposing fixed “registration charges” on illegal mining operators.
• Formalized Corruption: Payments are reportedly formalized with official receipts and stickers, with funds funneled into Assembly-linked bank accounts, creating a paper trail for illicit revenue.
• Direct Implication: Undercover footage allegedly shows the DCE confirming authorization of these collections. Officers from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) are also implicated in taking separate payments to halt enforcement actions.
• Four-Point Presidential Ultimatum: PleasureNews requests: 1) an independent investigation; 2) immediate interdiction of implicated officers; 3) a public audit of Assembly mining-related revenues; and 4) national oversight reform.
• National Security & Legal Implications: The petition frames this as a breach of Ghana’s governance, environmental protection, and criminal laws, warning that internal sabotage will cripple the national anti-galamsey strategy.

Background: The Galamsey Crisis and Institutional Challenges

Understanding Galamsey in Ghana

Galamsey is a local term derived from “gather them and sell,” referring to the practice of small-scale, often illegal, gold mining. While some artisanal mining is licensed, galamsey typically operates outside the legal framework. It is notorious for causing severe environmental damage, including the pollution of rivers with mercury and cyanide, deforestation, and the destruction of farmland and water bodies. The Akufo-Addo government launched a major military-backed operation, “Operation Vanguard,” in 2017 to combat the practice, highlighting its threat to national ecology and water security.

Historical Patterns of Corruption in Mining

Allegations of corruption and complicity in the galamsey sector are not new. For years, civil society organizations and journalists have reported on bribes paid to security personnel, chiefs, and local government officials to allow illegal operations to continue. What the ‘A Tax for Galamsey’ documentary purports to show is a more sophisticated, institutionalized level of this corruption—one where the local state apparatus itself has become a direct beneficiary and enforcer of the illegal economy, blurring the line between enforcement and enterprise.

Analysis: Unpacking the Alleged “Parallel Taxation” System

From Extortion to Structured Revenue

The petition’s most damaging claim is the transformation of ad-hoc bribes into a structured “tax” system. The alleged breakdown—₵3,000 for changfang (improvised washing) machines and higher levies for excavators—suggests a tiered pricing model for different scales of illegal operation. The use of official stickers and receipts is particularly incriminating. It implies a level of bureaucracy and traceability that points to official Assembly channels being used, not just rogue individuals. If true, this represents a catastrophic failure of local governance, where the entity tasked with upholding law and providing services is instead running a protection racket for environmental criminals.

The Chain of Command and Accountability

The allegations directly name the District Chief Executive (DCE) as the authorizing authority. This is critical. If the local government head is implicated, it suggests the corruption is not a bottom-up problem but may have top-down sponsorship or at least willful blindness. The involvement of NADMO (National Disaster Management Organization) officers is also significant. Their mandate is disaster response and management, not mining regulation. Their alleged role in taking payments to “prevent enforcement movements” suggests a perversion of multiple state agencies’ duties, creating a web of complicity that would be difficult for individual miners to circumvent without paying multiple parties.

Legal and Constitutional Breaches

PleasureNews’s petition correctly identifies potential legal breaches:

• Criminal Law: The acts could constitute corruption, extortion, abuse of office, and conspiracy to commit a crime under Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act and the Anti-Corruption Act.
• Environmental Law: The Minerals Commission Act and Environmental Protection Agency Act are being violated by the illegal mining itself, and the officials’ actions facilitate these violations.
• Public Financial Management: The collection and channeling of these funds into Assembly accounts without proper authorization and audit likely violates the Public Financial Management Act, constituting illicit revenue.

While the petition speaks of “possible breaches of Ghana’s leadership,” this likely refers to constitutional provisions on public office holders holding themselves to the highest standards of integrity. Speculation on specific articles is avoided here, as a full legal determination would require a formal investigation and judicial process.

Practical Advice: What Should Stakeholders Do?

This scandal transcends a single district. It is a test for Ghana’s entire governance and anti-corruption framework. Here is a roadmap for different actors:

For the Presidency and Executive Branch

1. Grant the Independent Investigation: The President must immediately mandate a credible, independent probe—potentially involving the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), and/or a special parliamentary committee—with full powers to investigate, subpoena, and prosecute.
2. Act on the Interdiction Demand: The implicated DCE, NADMO officers, and Assembly staff named or shown in the documentary must be suspended without pay pending the investigation. This is a standard and necessary administrative step to preserve evidence and prevent interference.
3. Order the Public Audit: The Auditor-General should be directed to conduct an immediate, forensic audit of all Amansie Central District Assembly accounts related to mining activities for the past three years, with findings made public.
4. Initiate National Oversight Reform: This incident must trigger a review of oversight mechanisms for all district assemblies involved in natural resource management. This includes strengthening the internal audit function, rotating personnel in high-risk districts, and enhancing the monitoring role of the Ministry of Local Government and the Minerals Commission.

For Parliament

1. Oversight Hearing: The relevant parliamentary committees (Local Government, Mines and Energy, and Defence and Interior) should hold a public hearing summoning the Minister for Local Government, the DCE, and heads of NADMO and the Minerals Commission to account.
2. Legislative Review: Parliament should examine if existing laws (e.g., the Local Governance Act, Minerals Commission Act) provide sufficient deterrents and clear penalties for officials who collude with illegal miners.

For Civil Society and the Media

1. Amplify and Verify: Other media houses should responsibly report on the documentary’s findings while also conducting their own corroborative investigations in the district.
2. Public Advocacy: CSOs working on environment, governance, and anti-corruption should mobilize public pressure, demanding action from the presidency and conducting citizen-led monitoring in the affected district.
3. Legal Action: Consider supporting community members or environmental groups in filing a citizen’s suit or a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for the violation of their right to a clean environment (Article 21(8) of the 1992 Constitution).

For the General Public and Communities

1. Document and Report: Citizens in mining communities should be encouraged to safely document and report any instances of officials demanding payments from miners, using official channels like the Police, EOCO, or CHRAJ hotlines.
2. Community Watchdog Groups: Form or support community-based monitoring committees to observe and report on mining activities and the conduct of local officials.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

What is “galamsey”?

Galamsey refers to the illegal, small-scale mining of gold and other minerals, often using rudimentary and highly destructive methods like mercury amalgamation. It is a major source of water pollution and deforestation in Ghana.

Who is PleasureNews?

PleasureNews is a Ghanaian media organization under the Multimedia Group Limited umbrella, known for its investigative journalism. This petition was signed by its General Manager, Fiifi Koomson.

What is the documentary evidence?

The petition references a 30-minute undercover documentary titled ‘A Tax for Galamsey’. It reportedly contains footage and audio recordings implicating the District Chief Executive and NADMO officers in discussions and actions related to the collection of payments from illegal miners. The documentary is publicly accessible (the original article embedded a YouTube link).

What are the specific legal consequences if the allegations are true?

If proven, implicated officials could face criminal prosecution for corruption, abuse of office, and conspiracy. They would also be liable for civil recovery of the illicit funds. The state could face lawsuits from affected communities for environmental damage. The government’s international reputation on environmental governance (e.g., under initiatives like the Ghana REDD+ Action Plan) could be harmed.

Has the government responded to the petition?

As of the publication date of the source article (February 10, 2026), the response from Jubilee House (the presidency) is not detailed. The petition was copied to the Chief of Staff, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and the Minerals Commission, placing the onus on these entities to act. The situation is evolving, and official statements would be the next key development to monitor.

Is this an isolated case in Amansie Central?

While this documentary focuses on Amansie Central, PleasureNews and other observers suggest this model of institutionalized collusion may be replicated in other high-galamsey districts. The petition’s call for “Oversight Reform” nationwide implies a belief that the problem is systemic, not isolated.

Conclusion: A Critical Test of Political Will

The allegations in ‘A Tax for Galamsey’ are explosive. They move the narrative on illegal mining from one of struggling enforcement against elusive criminals to one of state institutions allegedly becoming the architects and beneficiaries of the crime. PleasureNews’s petition is more than a media exposé; it is a direct challenge to the highest office in the land to demonstrate that the fight against galamsey is genuine and not compromised by internal corruption.

The four-point demand—investigate, suspend, audit, reform—sets a clear and reasonable standard for a credible response. The President’s action (or inaction) will signal whether Ghana’s leadership prioritizes environmental protection and the rule of law over the illicit financial gains of a few local officials. For the communities living with the devastating consequences of poisoned rivers and destroyed lands, this is not an abstract political drama. It is a matter of survival and justice. The world is watching to see if the “parallel tax” on Ghana’s environment will be dismantled, or if it will be allowed to continue, protected by the very powers sworn to stop it.