Galamsey: National tragedy demanding united front
On August 6, 2025, Ghana was shaken by a tragic helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region, an incident reportedly linked to an illegal mining-related event.
This catastrophe is not an isolated case.
It is a symptom of a deeper national crisis: the unchecked spread of illegal mining, or galamsey, which continues to ravage our environment, divide our politics, and endanger lives.
Lessons
Ghana is not alone in facing the scourge of illegal mining. Across the continent, countries have grappled with similar challenges:
• South Africa: Illegal miners known as zama zamas operate in abandoned shafts under perilous conditions. Despite crackdowns, the problem persists due to poor mine closure practices and weak enforcement. A recent tragedy saw over 80 miners die from starvation and toxic exposure.
• Zimbabwe: The government has attempted to legalise artisanal mining through permit systems, aiming to reduce lawlessness and improve safety.
• Bono Region, Ghana: A major raid in August 2025 dismantled an illegal mining hub, but displaced thousands who now face homelessness and joblessness.
These examples show that enforcement alone is not enough. A sustainable solution requires political will, community engagement and economic alternatives.
In Ghana, galamsey has morphed into a political bargaining chip. When the ruling party enforces anti-mining laws, opposition parties often exploit the situation, promising leniency to win votes.
This partisan tug-of-war undermines national efforts and emboldens illegal miners.
The politicisation of galamsey has reached disturbing levels.
Some political actors have even celebrated tragedies linked to illegal mining, turning national grief into partisan mockery. This is not politics; it is a betrayal of our collective future.
Environmental, social devastation
Illegal mining has devastated Ghana’s forests, rivers, and farmlands:
• Over 5,252 hectares of forest reserves have been destroyed.
• Rivers like the Pra and Offin are so polluted that tap water in some areas runs brown.
• Mercury and cyanide used in mining have entered the bloodstreams of non-miners, causing birth defects and chronic illnesses.
• Cocoa farms are being wiped out, threatening Ghana’s position as the world’s second-largest producer.
Women and children bear the brunt of this crisis. Girls drop out of school to sell food at mining sites, while women take on dangerous jobs with little recognition or reward.
Enough is enough
Galamsey is not just an environmental issue; it is a moral and existential one.
The time has come for Ghanaians to rise above party lines and unite against this national threat.
Here’s what must be done:
• Declare a national emergency: The scale of destruction warrants urgent, coordinated action across all sectors.
• Enforce political neutrality: No party should use galamsey as a campaign tool. Politicians who support illegal mining must be held accountable.
• Empower communities: Local youth, chiefs and women’s groups should be integrated into regulated cooperative mining programmes.
• Track and monitor equipment: All excavators and mining machinery must be registered and tracked to prevent unauthorised use.
• Provide economic alternatives: Job training, sustainable agriculture and small business support can offer miners a dignified path out of illegality.
• Strengthen civic education: Ghanaians must understand that loyalty to the country comes before party loyalty.
An informed citizen is a powerful force for change.
United Ghana
The tragedy of August 6 should be a turning point, not just another headline.
We must honour the lives lost by committing to a future where Ghana’s rivers run clean, its forests thrive, and its youth find hope beyond the mines.
Let us not wait for another disaster. Let us act now. Let us be the generation that ended galamsey, not the one that allowed it to destroy our nation.
