The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, has announced fresh measures to combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, including the procurement of 10 high-tech speedboats for the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operational Secretariat (NAIMOS) to patrol and protect the country’s river bodies.
Addressing the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi, Mr. Gyamfi described mining in and around water bodies as the most dangerous form of illegal mining and reiterated government’s commitment to ending the menace. He stated that GoldBod had already supported anti-galamsey operations with five pick-up vehicles and GH¢5 million and was now investing further in logistics to strengthen enforcement efforts.
He warned that illegal miners would face the full rigour of the law and disclosed that government had criminalised the purchase of gold from illegal mining sources. According to him, licensed gold buyers are now required to buy only from authorised mining entities.
Mr. Gyamfi further revealed that GoldBod was developing a comprehensive traceability system that will enable authorities to track every ounce of gold to its source. The initiative, he explained, would help monitor mining activities, reform non-compliant operators and shut down illegal operations across the country.
Mr Sammy Gyamfi’s announcement that government is procuring speedboats and strengthening anti-galamsey operations should ordinarily inspire confidence among Ghanaians. Unfortunately, after years of promises, declarations, task forces, military deployments, excavator seizures, emergency meetings and political speeches, many citizens have become sceptical.The reason is simple: talk is cheap.
For more than a decade, successive governments have assured the nation that they are winning the fight against galamsey. Every administration has pledged to protect Ghana’s forests, rivers and farmlands. Every administration has launched operations, formed committees, established task forces and promised decisive action. Yet the destruction continues almost unabated.
What The Chronicle recently witnessed on the stretch from Osino to Akyem Abomosu should alarm every Ghanaian. The scale of devastation was shocking. Illegal mining activities were taking place openly along the roadside and within communities with no attempt to conceal them. Large portions of land have been reduced to lifeless pits and mounds of sand. Vegetation has disappeared. Productive farmlands have been sacrificed in pursuit of gold.
The situation becomes even more disturbing when one considers the condition of the Birim River. The river, once a vital source of water and livelihood for many communities, has become a symbol of environmental destruction. The Chronicle’s observation was not merely concerning; it was heart-breaking. The river is in a deplorable state. If this is the condition of one of our major rivers, then one must ask whether Ghana is truly winning the war against galamsey or merely winning the public relations battle.
The answer is becoming increasingly obvious.In January this year, President John Dramani Mahama vowed to tackle galamsey decisively and without fear or favour. He called on Ghanaians to join the effort to protect the country’s rivers and forests. The pledge was welcomed by many who hoped that a new chapter was beginning in the fight against environmental destruction.
Five months later, however, the evidence on the ground tells a different story.If illegal miners can operate openly in broad daylight; if excavators continue to destroy forests; if rivers continue to turn brown and polluted; if communities continue to suffer the consequences of environmental degradation, then it is difficult to conclude that meaningful progress is being made.
The uncomfortable truth is that Ghana may be losing this battle.This is not to suggest that there have been no arrests. We hear about arrests almost every week. We hear about excavators being seized. We hear about task forces being deployed. We hear about new technologies being introduced. We hear about speedboats being procured.
But where are the convictions?Where are the powerful financiers behind these operations?Where are the politically connected individuals who continue to profit from the destruction of our environment?The ordinary Ghanaian has heard enough promises. What citizens want to see are results.
The fight against galamsey cannot be won through speeches alone. It cannot be won through press conferences. It cannot be won by merely announcing the procurement of equipment. Equipment does not fight crime. People do. Institutions do. Political will does.
The state must demonstrate that nobody is above the law. Chiefs who facilitate illegal mining, officials who look the other way, security personnel who protect illegal operators and politicians who interfere with enforcement actions must all face sanctions.
Anything short of that will only reinforce the growing perception that Ghana lacks the courage to confront the real beneficiaries of galamsey.History will not judge this generation by the number of anti-galamsey speeches delivered. It will judge us by whether our rivers survived. It will judge us by whether our forests remained standing. It will judge us by whether future generations inherited a livable environment.
The time for rhetoric has long passed. The country has heard enough declarations of war. The country has heard enough assurances. What Ghana needs now is action.
Until the destruction visibly reduces, until polluted rivers begin to recover, until degraded lands are reclaimed and until the masterminds behind illegal mining are prosecuted and punished, all the promises, warnings and announcements will amount to one thing – Talk is cheap. And as the evidence across our mining communities increasingly shows, talk is indeed cheap.
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