The story of Ghana’s struggle with galamsey (illegal small-scale mining) is a long, painful one. It’s a tale woven with desperation, dashed hopes, and environmental devastation. But it is also a story of remarkable patience: the patience and goodwill of ordinary Ghanaians who have repeatedly trusted their leaders to protect the nation’s natural wealth and future. That goodwill is not infinite. It is precious and perilously close to depletion.
Understanding the Galamsey Crisis
Galamsey has come to symbolize much more than just unauthorized digging. It reflects a collision between economic survival and environmental collapse. For decades, thousands have swarmed Ghana’s rivers, forests, and lands in pursuit of livelihood, driven by poverty and a lack of viable alternatives.
But the cost has been catastrophic. Once-vibrant rivers like Pra and Ankobra now run brown and toxic. Farmlands are stripped bare. Aquatic life is vanishing. Rural communities are being robbed of safe drinking water and future prospects. This is no longer a mere mining issue; it’s an existential crisis.
The problem isn’t just environmental; it’s deeply social and political. Galamsey thrives within a tangled web of poverty, impunity, and political complicity. Influential actors, local and foreign, often operate with seeming immunity. And as long as power structures benefit from the chaos, meaningful change will remain elusive.
Rhetoric vs. Results: A Familiar Pattern
Election after election, Ghanaian leaders promise a hardline stance against galamsey. We hear bold speeches, see task forces formed, and witness media spectacles of military action. Yet when the dust settles, illegal mining not only survives, but it also mutates and spreads.
The Ghanaian people have continued to place their faith in the presidency of John Dramani Mahama to lead with courage and conviction. But trust is not an unlimited commodity. It must be continually earned through action, not words. Every broken promise, every wink of vested interest, and every instance of selective justice drains this reservoir of public goodwill.
Your Administration: A Spark that Risks Flickering Out
Mr. President, you began your tenure with strong, decisive gestures and initiatives. For this brief moment, there is real hope. Perhaps this time, things will truly change.
But time is passing very fast, and old habits seem to be resurfacing. Reports of mining in protected areas persist. Rivers remain polluted. Whispers of official complicity are growing louder, unless I am proven wrong. The perception is growing, not just among skeptics, but among former believers, that galamsey is simply too profitable, too entrenched, and too politically protected to be defeated.
The Real Threat: Eroding Public Trust
The most dangerous consequence of inaction isn’t environmental, it’s moral. It’s the slow unraveling of the bond between citizens and their government. When people believe their sacrifices are in vain, when enforcement is undermined from within, when justice only reaches the powerless, the result is disillusionment.
And without public trust, no government can implement the difficult reforms necessary to solve problems as complex as galamsey. This is not just a fight over land or water; it’s a battle for the soul of Ghana.
A Path Forward: What Real Action Looks Like
If your administration truly wishes to correct course, and it still can, five steps are non-negotiable:
Uncompromising Political Will:
Show that no individual or interest is above the law. Let investigations and prosecutions go where they must, even if they implicate political allies or high-ranking officials.
Transparency and Accountability:
Open the books. Let Ghanaians see how licenses are issued, how task forces operate, and where recovered resources go. Publish regular reports. Protect whistleblowers.
Community Involvement:
Don’t impose top-down solutions. Engage mining communities meaningfully. Empower them to help shape and enforce the rules that govern their lands.
Invest in Alternative Livelihoods:
Galamsey thrives because poverty persists. Scale up investment in agriculture, vocational training, and rural enterprise development. People need real, dignified options.
Restore the Land, and the Spirit of the Nation:
Launch a national restoration campaign. Heal rivers, reforest degraded lands, and let the entire nation witness the work. Environmental healing must become a symbol of national renewal. Before all these above-mentioned laudable steps, we must contain and stop the galamsey operations in the country.
The Role of Civil Society and the Media
Governments cannot fight this battle alone. Civil society and the media are not enemies of progress; they are its engine. Investigative journalists, advocacy groups, and NGOs like the Climate Frontier Advocacy (CFA) are urging the current government to do better than the previous regime. Their efforts must be encouraged, not obstructed. Let this be a partnership, not a standoff.
Global Lessons, Local Solutions
Ghana is not the first country to face this dilemma. From Peru to South Africa and Indonesia, nations have learned painful lessons about illegal mining. We don’t have to repeat their mistakes. Let’s collaborate internationally, learn best practices, and adapt them to our unique context.
A Call to Legacy, Not Just Leadership
Mr. President, the fight against galamsey is not about political points or headline wins. It is about your legacy, and the story this generation talks about itself. Will we be remembered as the stewards who reclaimed our land, or the spectators who watched it waste away?
The goodwill of Ghanaians is a flame: fragile, flickering, and fading. But if protected and honored, it can light the path forward. With courage, transparency, and a fierce commitment to justice, your administration can turn the tide. Not just on galamsey, but on cynicism itself.
Let history record that when the rivers ran red and the forests fell silent, Ghana’s leaders finally listened and led. Let’s tackle the Galamsey menace with the urgency it deserves. My President, the goodwill of Ghanaians for you to fight galamsey is massive and your regime should use it as a hard currency to contain and solve this galamsey menace once and for all.
