The menace of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has become a critical national concern in Ghana. Its devastating effects on the environment, particularly the country’s lush forests and water bodies, have been catastrophic.
Despite numerous calls to address the issue and several steps taken by past governments, the menace remains largely unresolved. Many analysts even attribute the December 7, 2024, electoral loss of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to its failure to decisively tackle this environmental and socio-economic canker.
Investigative journalist Erastus Asare Donkor’s recent revelation has reignited public outrage over the persistence of illegal mining activities, particularly within protected areas like the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve.
Erastus Asare Donkor, in his revelation, exposed ongoing illegal mining activities which he alleged are sanctioned by elements within the new administration.
“As we speak, three groups sanctioned by elements in the new government are still inside the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve mining illegally and further degrading the forest,” Mr Donkor revealed. His call for accountability has amplified demands for urgent government action to stop the impunity.
The Tano Anwia Forest Reserve, like many of Ghana’s natural resources, symbolizes both the nation’s rich ecological heritage and the gross mismanagement that has left such reserves vulnerable to exploitation.
Environmental degradation from illegal mining has left rivers polluted with mercury, displaced communities, and destroyed arable lands crucial for agriculture.
The Role of the Previous Administration
Contributing to the conversation, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Constitutional, Rights & Policy Strategy Advisor at the Democracy Accountability Hub, accused the previous government of issuing over 2,000 questionable mining licenses, many of which, he argued, continue to embolden illegal operations.
“These are people who are more likely than not operating with some of the over 2,000 licenses issued by the former regime. These licenses must be revoked! Our approach to irresponsible mining cannot include allowing people to do ‘legally’ the exact things they did ‘illegally.’”
Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor
Barker-Vormawor further criticised the current administration for its selective revocation of appointments without addressing the lingering crisis. “President dey revoke previous appointments. All that is good. So why is he not also revoking the 2,000 mining licenses ‘Mampam’ gave his cronies?” he queried.
The activist outcry has spurred calls for a national reawakening to confront the illegal mining menace. Barker-Vormawor issued a three-month ultimatum to the government to take decisive action, warning of mass protests if significant measures are not implemented by March 6, 2025.
“It’s been nearly 5months since we were arrested for protesting Galamsey. It seems to me that this existential threat must bring us back to the streets.
“We cannot allow people to do legally the exact things they did illegally, under cover of shoddy licenses. The President has 3 month ultimatum exactly! 6th March Demonstration Loading.”
Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor
The ultimatum emphasized the urgency for comprehensive and transparent measures to clamp down on both illegal and irresponsible legal mining. The activist argued that Ghana cannot afford to prioritize political appeasement over ecological preservation.
The persistence of galamsey underscores the failure of past and present administrations to adopt a robust, transparent, and sustainable approach to mining governance.
Key reforms that activists and environmentalists have repeatedly called for include the immediate cancellation of all questionable licenses issued under the previous administration, with a thorough review of the licensing framework to prevent future abuse.
Activists have also called for the repeal of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462) and enhanced monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to eliminate illegal mining operations, particularly in protected reserves.
The government has also been urged to investigate and prosecute individuals and entities complicit in illegal mining activities, regardless of their political affiliations.
The ongoing illegal mining activities in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve and other parts of Ghana represent a national emergency that cannot be ignored.
The consequences of inaction are dire: increased water scarcity, loss of biodiversity, heightened food insecurity, and a legacy of environmental degradation for future generations.
President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, still fresh from its electoral victory, must seize this opportunity to demonstrate bold leadership.
The government must address these grievances swiftly to restore public confidence and ensure Ghana’s natural resources are preserved for posterity.
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