Galamsey in Ghana: Why Politicians’ Involvement is the Key Barrier to Winning the Fight Against Illegal Mining

Discover CDD-Ghana’s expert view on how political actors undermine anti-galamsey efforts, environmental protection, and national security in Ghana’s gold mining crisis.

Introduction

Galamsey, Ghana’s term for small-scale illegal gold mining, has ravaged the nation’s rivers, forests, and farmlands for years. This destructive practice pollutes water sources with mercury and cyanide, displaces communities, and threatens public health. Despite government initiatives like Operation Halt and the establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), progress remains elusive. A pivotal revelation from the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) highlights political interference as the primary obstacle.

On November 8, 2024, during JoyNews’ Newsfile program, CDD-Ghana’s Programmes Officer, Vera Abena Addo, stated that politicians’ ongoing involvement in the galamsey chain is why Ghana “hasn’t won the struggle.” Her comments underscore a systemic issue: protection of offenders by political figures weakens enforcement. This article breaks down her insights, the broader galamsey crisis, and actionable steps for resolution, optimized for understanding the intersection of politics, environment, and governance in Ghana.

Analysis

The fight against galamsecurity in Ghana involves multiple stakeholders, including security forces, environmental agencies, and civil society. Vera Abena Addo’s remarks came amid heightened tensions following a recent attack on NAIMOS officers, who were targeted while executing anti-galamsey operations. This violence exemplifies the resistance faced by enforcers, often linked to powerful backers.

Understanding Galamsey’s Scale

Galamsey operations extract gold using rudimentary methods, employing thousands but causing irreversible harm. According to Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 60% of the country’s water bodies are polluted due to illegal mining activities. Rivers like the Pra and Ankobra are turbid from sediment, rendering them unusable for drinking or irrigation.

Political Interference Exposed

Addo emphasized that politicians shield galamsey operators and influence agencies like the Minerals Commission and police. This involvement spans financing equipment, providing logistics, and pressuring officials to overlook violations. Such interference erodes public trust and hampers coordinated national responses, as seen in repeated moratoriums on small-scale mining that fail to stick.

Summary

In essence, CDD-Ghana attributes Ghana’s stalled galamsey crackdown to entrenched political participation. Until politicians cease protecting illegal miners and manipulating enforcement, efforts will falter. Addo’s call on Newsfile aligns with broader critiques from watchdog groups, urging transparency and accountability to safeguard Ghana’s natural resources.

Key Points

Practical Advice

Combating galamsey requires collective action beyond government. Citizens, communities, and businesses can contribute meaningfully.

For Individuals and Communities

Report suspicious activities via the EPA hotline (0800-222-327) or NAIMOS channels. Join community watch groups to monitor riversides. Avoid purchasing unverified gold to starve the illegal market.

For Businesses and NGOs

Corporate entities in mining should audit supply chains for galamsey links. NGOs like CDD-Ghana advocate partnering with media for awareness campaigns. Promote legal small-scale mining licenses through education programs.

Government and Enforcement Tips

Implement tech like drones for surveillance, as piloted in 2023 operations. Train NAIMOS in non-lethal crowd control to reduce attack risks. Publish annual galamsey reports for transparency.

Points of Caution

Engaging with galamsey carries severe risks. Health hazards from chemical exposure include mercury poisoning, leading to neurological damage. Environmentally, degraded lands reduce agricultural yields by up to 40%, per World Bank studies. Economically, Ghana loses millions in potential legal mining revenue annually.

Politically motivated violence, as in the NAIMOS incident, endangers lives. Citizens should avoid confrontations and rely on official reporting. Long-term, unchecked galamsey exacerbates climate vulnerability, with flooded farmlands during rains.

Comparison

Ghana’s galamsey struggle mirrors challenges elsewhere but differs in political entrenchment.

Vs. Peru’s Illegal Mining

Peru combats minería ilegal via joint military-police task forces, reducing Amazon deforestation by 20% since 2019 (per Global Forest Watch). Unlike Ghana, Peru’s approach limits politician prosecutions, focusing on financiers.

Vs. Tanzania’s Gold Rush Control

Tanzania’s 2019 mining law bans raw concentrate exports, boosting legal output. Ghana could adopt similar export controls, though Tanzania faces less overt political involvement.

Lessons for Ghana

Successful models emphasize depoliticized enforcement and international aid, like the EU’s support in Peru for river cleanups.

Legal Implications

Ghana’s Minerals and Mining Act (2006, amended 2019) criminalizes illegal mining with fines up to GH¢ 5 million or 15-year imprisonment. Politicians implicated face charges under the Anti-Corruption Act if proven to facilitate via influence peddling.

NAIMOS operates under Executive Instrument 2019, granting powers to seize equipment. Attacks on officers invoke assault laws (Criminal Offences Act, 1960). However, enforcement gaps due to interference highlight needs for independent probes, as recommended by the Justice Dzakpasu Committee (2021). Verifiable prosecutions remain low, with only 50 convictions in 2023 per Ghana Police Service data.

Conclusion

Vera Abena Addo’s CDD-Ghana analysis crystallizes the galamsey impasse: politicians’ involvement perpetuates illegal mining in Ghana. Victory demands political will to sever ties, bolster enforcement, and foster alternatives like formal artisanal mining. By prioritizing transparency and community involvement, Ghana can reclaim its rivers and forests. Stakeholders must act now to turn the tide in this critical environmental and governance battle.

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