THE NEED FOR GHANAIANS TO SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST “GALAMSEY”

Illegal miners in Ghana at work
Ghana and South Africa are competing to become the leading gold producers in Africa. Ghana is
now facing a severe issue of illegal gold mining, often called “galamsey” (gather and sell). These
illicit mining operations are causing significant damage to the country’s forested areas where
gold is mined. The prevalence of youth unemployment in Ghana is cited as the primary
motivation for the involvement of the youth in the illegal mining business. The country’s
elevated unemployment rate renders the youth vulnerable to illicit activity like galamsey as a
means of livelihood. In many areas, young individuals participate in galamsey activities to avoid
the social exclusion of unemployment. Additionally, the absence of employment stability is often
mentioned as another motivating factor that drives individuals toward engaging in illicit artisanal
mining.Some individuals are enticed by the prospect of making fast money or a “get-rich-quick” mindset.

The increase of galamsey operations in the country is also attributed to the inherent connections
between many influential individuals, including politicians and traditional leaders, who play a
significant role in supporting illicit mining in Ghana. Several traditional rulers and politicians are
actively engaged in this mining activity. Recently, an internet blog posted that Nana Kwame SobreII, the Chief of Manse near Bibiani, and nine others were arrested for their suspected
participation in illicit mining activities. When the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) of the Forestry
Commission interviewed them, all the suspects stated that the chief, Nana Kwame Sobre II,
introduced them to this illicit mining business. Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, the former
Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, identified some high-ranking
government officials involved in unlawful mining activities in a letter to the president. This leads
the young and others to believe that if Ghanaian leaders engage in such behavior, there is no
inherent wrongdoing in their doing the same. Nevertheless, I urge Ghanaians to consider the
following detrimental consequences of this issue and reconsider their stance.
Ghanaians should know that unlawful mining poses a significant risk to the country’s physical
security. The majority of illegal miners, particularly those of Chinese origin, have sophisticated

weapons they use when they encounter armed robbers or Government task forces while trying to
resist arrest. The excessive collection and unregulated spread of weapons are known to intensify
and prolong acts of violence. Weapons in wrong hands can impede progress in achieving peace
and security, human rights, and development objectives. It can result in many atrocities,
fatalities, and sexual assaults. Additionally, the government is experiencing a loss of income in
the gold mining industry due to the illicit smuggling of gold out of the country. Unlawful mining
is causing significant damage to cocoa crops, which are vital for the country’s foreign currency
earnings. Illegal mining operations have also devastated several forest areas and agricultural
lands. In 2018, small-scale and illicit mining destroyed 29,000 hectares, with 1,000 hectares
happening in protected regions of the country.
An additional issue associated with these operations is the loss of life among innocent
individuals caused by some galamsey pits located either inside existing subsistence farms or near
residential areas. After gold mining operations cease, most galamsey pits are exposed and not
covered. Farmers face crop development and yield obstacles when rehabilitating and cultivating
food crops on damaged and abandoned galamsey sites. The issues include cyanide and mercury
pollution. Mercury is a prominent chemical used in galamsey processes but is poisonous and
often mismanaged by small-scale miners. This chemical is disposed of following the extraction
of gold. Improper disposal leads to health problems, including hematuria and infant congenital
malformations. Mercury contamination also has detrimental effects on Ghana’s fisheries and
aquaculture industries. Aquaculture initiatives in regions affected by illicit mining have failed.
Ghana is a major cocoa-producing nation. It is responsible for around 20% of global cocoa
production. Cocoa contributes roughly 15% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Nevertheless, illicit mining is having a detrimental impact on cocoa output. Evidence of this may
be seen in the contamination of the ecosystems, agricultural land degradation, productivity
decline, and the forced divestment of cocoa plantations. Chinese individuals and Ghanaian
citizens engaged in illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) often provide higher financial
incentives to acquire agricultural lands and use covert payments to persuade local authorities to
continue their operations. Farmers who cannot resist this temptation choose to sell their
farmlands and join the galamsey bandwagon. Also the proliferation of small-scale mining
operations and the influx of migrant workers into illicit mining regions lead to a surge in
prostitution, often involving underage girls as young as 12 years old. Consequently, this results
in a rise in adolescent pregnancies, lone parenthood, and the spread of sexually transmitted
infections, including HIV/AIDS.
Ultimately, galamsey results in child labor. Most children in mining communities get an
education, while some work to support their schooling expenses. Nevertheless, many students
exhibit inconsistent attendance patterns, often missing classes or whole school days, contributing
to the pervasive school dropout issue in mining areas. Due to the usually brief durations of small-
scale mining operations, many youngsters will ultimately face unemployment and need more
skills to get other employment.
To recapitulate, I want to emphasize that Ghana’s future economic success and national security
are inherently interconnected with the gold sector. Gold mining is a significant financial
endeavor for Ghanaians and the government. Factors such as youth unemployment, poverty, the
exorbitant cost of gold, and strong demand have catalyzed the surge in illicit mining operations

inside the nation. As a result, the integrity of Ghana’s national security is being compromised.
Land, water bodies, and forest reserves have been devastated. The unlawful mining operations
have resulted in the contamination of rivers and streams with hazardous substances. That makes
it crucial for all Ghanaians to help fight this economic menace.
By Kwame Aduhene-Kwarteng (Castro) PhD MA.