New community coalition targets youth, parents in fresh fight against illegal mining
Traditional authorities in the Eastern Region have stepped up calls for a more decisive and coordinated response to illegal mining, as a newly launched community group pledged to tackle the social and economic drivers of the galamsey menace.
At Akyem-Agyapomaa in the Abuakwa South Municipality, the Amankrado of Agyapomaa, Baffour Ampem Darko Okyere III, joined forces with Save the Mining Communities-Ghana to signal what both sides described as a united front against the destruction of lands and water bodies.
Speaking at the launch of the group, the chief lamented what he said was the systematic exclusion of traditional leaders from decisions on mining concessions — a development he argued undermines accountability and fuels illegal mining in local communities.
"We have always been accused of having a hand in galamsey activities as chiefs," he said. "People are given concessions without our knowledge and before we realise, they are already mining on our lands."
According to Baffour Ampem Darko Okyere III, critical decisions affecting stool lands are often taken in Accra without adequate consultation with local custodians, leaving chiefs unable to track who has been authorised to operate within their jurisdictions.
He maintained that greater transparency in the allocation of concessions would strengthen oversight at the community level and help prevent illegal operators from exploiting regulatory gaps.
"The chiefs must be made aware of whom a particular concession has been given in their vicinity so we can properly monitor their activities and hold them accountable for their actions and inactions," he stressed.
His remarks reflect long-standing tensions between centralised mining approvals and traditional governance structures, particularly in areas heavily impacted by illegal small-scale mining.
Alongside the traditional leadership’s call for inclusion, Save the Mining Communities-Ghana outlined a social intervention strategy aimed at addressing the economic vulnerabilities that draw young people into galamsey.
Founded by Andrews Kwame Perprem, the group says it will focus on removing children and youth from illegal mining sites and supporting their return to formal education.
“We realise that most of these children are self-dependent and contribute financially to their households. If we want them out of galamsey, we must provide alternative livelihood support to their parents,” a representative of the group explained.
The organisation plans to provide learning materials and academic support to reintegrate young people into the classroom, while equipping parents with vocational skills training and seed funding to establish small businesses.
“We believe that if you want someone to stop a practice, you must provide viable alternatives,” the group emphasised.
Beyond the social dimension, the group has outlined environmental restoration as a core pillar of its campaign. It intends to refill abandoned mining pits, reclaim degraded lands and promote agriculture as a sustainable source of income for affected communities.
