The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has called on the government to go beyond targeting small-scale miners and pursue the key financiers and powerful figures behind illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.He made this known during a courtesy call by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
Otumfuo urged that government should go after the ‘Big Fishes’ in the galamsey business and prosecute them, instead of focusing only on the youth involved in the illegal act.
The Minister’s visit was part of efforts to seek Otumfuo’s support and guidance for the government’s planned reforms in the mining and forestry sectors. He commended the Asantehene for his exemplary leadership, particularly in ensuring litigation-free land administration in the Ashanti Region.
Outlining some immediate measures taken by the government, the Minister mentioned the establishment of an 18-member working committee to review the licensing regime, reclassify mining categories and overhaul the Community Mining Schemes.
The Asantehene acknowledged the efforts being made, but urged the Minister to address the root cause of illegal mining by providing alternative livelihood programmes for the youth in mining communities. He emphasised that if young people have meaningful and sustainable sources of income, they would be less likely to engage in destructive mining activities.
For decades, Ghana’s fight against illegal mining has been largely reactive, focusing on arresting and prosecuting small-scale miners. However, this approach has failed to curb the menace, as the real powers behind the galamsey such as the financiers, corrupt officials and influential figures remain untouched.
The time has come for a shift in strategy. Rather than focusing on the desperate youth drawn into illegal mining due to economic hardship, the government must go after the masterminds who fund and facilitate these activities.
Illegal mining has left a trail of destruction across Ghana. Water bodies have become heavily polluted with mercury and other toxic chemicals, making water treatment increasingly difficult. The Ghana Water Company Limited has warned that if this trend continues, the country may have to import potable water by 2030.
The health implications are dire, with long-term exposure to mercury being linked to kidney failure, birth defects and neurological disorders. Beyond health and environmental damage, Ghana’s economy also suffers, as the state loses millions in uncollected taxes and revenue due to the illegal mining operations.
The government’s approach has often been heavy-handed, deploying military task forces such as Operation Vanguard and Operation Halt to clamp down on illegal miners. While these actions occasionally yield short-term results, they do not address the root cause of the problem. Many of the youth involved in galamsey have no viable alternatives, as economic opportunities in mining communities remain limited. If these miners are arrested and their equipment destroyed, they are often forced back into illegal mining, as their only means of survival.
Meanwhile, the financiers and influential figures who bankroll these operations remain in the shadows, using their connections to escape scrutiny.
To make real progress, the government must shift its focus toward identifying, prosecuting and punishing those who profit the most from galamsey.
The fight against galamsey is ultimately a test of Ghana’s political will. Powerful figures involved in illegal mining must no longer be shielded by political affiliations or financial influence.
If the government truly wants to end galamsey, it must take bold action against those at the top, not just those at the bottom. The time for half-measures and symbolic gestures is over.
