Civil society activist Dr. Steve Manteaw has sharply criticised President John Dramani Mahama’s comments on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, insisting they contradict the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) electoral pledge and risk isolating Ghana from responsible global gold markets.
In a post titled “My take on John Dramani Mahama’s comments on galamsey”, Dr. Manteaw argued that the President’s focus during his recent media engagement leaned too heavily on the supposed economic benefits of gold exports while downplaying the immense social, environmental, and health costs borne by the country.
“It focuses more on the benefit side of the equation, than the cost side i.e. how much it cost the country in environmental damage, food security, health implication, water scarcity, and remediation, to generate the $6 billion being reported as returns on our small-scale gold exports’
Dr. Steve Manteaw, Civil Society Activist
Dr. Manteaw contended that such a stance does not keep faith with the NDC’s electoral pledge, adding that it runs at odds with international standards.
“It’s at variance with the OECD guidelines on responsible mineral sourcing and therefore rules Ghana out of mainstream gold markets. It heightens the risk of money laundering and the financing of Serious Organised Crime (SOC). Ghana risks international sanctions if we don’t take decisive action against the galamsey menace”
Dr. Steve Manteaw, Civil Society Activist
The activist further warned that Ghana’s current handling of illegal mining could expose the country to punitive global measures if decisive reforms are not introduced urgently. He emphasised that the spectre of international sanctions is real, particularly because of the threat galamsey poses to responsible mineral sourcing frameworks.
According to Dr. Manteaw, the Mahama government should be more concerned about the reputational harm being inflicted on Ghana, which could lead to exclusion from key global markets. He said such an outcome would not only undermine Ghana’s credibility in the international mining sector but could also cripple a vital source of legitimate revenue.
Missed Opportunity on GoldBod
While criticising the President’s remarks, Dr. Manteaw acknowledged that institutions such as the GoldBod have demonstrated commitment to addressing the crisis through technological innovations.
He noted that the establishment of a traceability system, using blockchain to track gold from pit to refinery, is a major step forward.
“This was a major topic for discussion at the just-ended Minerals and Mining Convention. Perhaps, the president should have emphasised this, rather than appear to be giving up on the country’s fight against galamsey”
Dr. Steve Manteaw, Civil Society Activist
He stressed that a communication strategy highlighting progress in such areas would have reassured Ghanaians and the international community that the state remains determined to confront the menace.
Dr. Manteaw underscored the need for a multifaceted approach rather than over-reliance on military intervention. “I’ve always maintained that brute force alone will not deliver the outcome we seek,” he said, reiterating that the state cannot depend on muscle alone to win the fight against galamsey.
The activist’s comments came in reaction to President Mahama’s insistence at his September 10 media encounter that declaring a state of emergency over galamsey would be premature. The President argued that existing laws already give the state adequate authority to address the crisis without resorting to emergency powers.
A Growing Crisis
Echoing similar sentiments as Dr. Manteaw, the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) described the President’s posture as uninspiring. The coalition said his remarks at the media engagement “do not inspire hope,” at a time when the country faces worsening environmental destruction.
The group argued that the lack of urgency in the President’s remarks stands in sharp contrast to the dire reality faced by Ghanaians daily. For the coalition, the government’s response falls short of the national consensus for stronger and more decisive action.
Both Dr. Manteaw and the coalition believe that Ghana is running out of time to salvage its environment from the devastation of illegal mining. They caution that if the government continues to delay bold interventions, future generations will bear the irreversible consequences.
Dr. Manteaw concluded that the stakes have grown too high for half-hearted measures, warning that Ghana risks losing both its environmental resources and international credibility if the fight against galamsey is not intensified.
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