Renowned legal scholar and Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh, has raised alarm over the growing power and influence of illegal mining cartels, commonly referred to as “galamsey,” and their potential to undermine the country’s democracy and governance system.
In a sharp critique of the political establishment, Professor Prempeh likened the escalating galamsey menace to the rise of drug cartels in other countries, warning of dire consequences for Ghana’s governance and environment.
He drew attention to the reluctance of some political leaders to confront the galamsey cartels, despite the known harm they inflict on the nation’s environment and resources.
“Imagine your elected politicians telling you to your face that they would not fight the mafia or drug cartels or some other social menace that was ravaging the country because to do so might cause their party to lose votes in an election and the party politicians their political careers! This is where we are now with galamsey,”
Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh, Executive Director of Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana)
Galamsey’s Influence Mirrors Drug Cartels’
Professor Prempeh’s commentary painted a stark picture of how democracies elsewhere have succumbed to the influence of criminal gangs and cartels.
Drawing parallels with the narco-states of Latin America, he pointed out that criminal enterprises like drug cartels, much like galamsey operators in Ghana, often provide livelihoods for many in their local communities, becoming entrenched in local economies.
The danger, he warned, is that these illicit groups may gain unchecked political power, subverting the very democratic principles on which nations are built.
“Don’t forget that those drug cartels, too, like galamsey, provide livelihoods for many and could even be the mainstay of many local economies. Must they be shielded and made untouchable then?”
Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh, Executive Director of Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana)
Professor Prempeh underscored the worrying trajectory Ghana could be on if decisive action is not taken.
He cautioned that if galamsey operations continue to thrive without strict control, they could evolve into political kingmakers, just as drug barons have in some other countries.
The Looming Threat of a Narco-State Scenario in Ghana
The Executive Director of the not-for-profit research and advocacy think tank group further warned that Ghana could slip into a “narco-state”, echoing the fears voiced by some civil society and environmental activists about the growing impunity of galamsey operators.
He argued that if the influence of these eco-criminals is allowed to expand, they could soon rival the power of political elites, becoming the de facto decision-makers in certain constituencies.
“Pray we don’t become a narco-state, because, then, the drug barons would run this town with impunity and become our kingmakers. In some constituencies, this is precisely what we have turned galamsey operators into!
Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh, Executive Director of Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana)
Galamsey: A Menace That Must Be Contained
Professor Prempeh’s assessment highlighted the existential threat that galamsey poses—not just to the environment, but to the country’s democracy.
He warned of the “slippery slope” that Ghana finds itself on, where the unchecked rise of these illicit operations could see the country being “surrendered” to cartels, just as some democracies have been overtaken by criminal organizations.
“We cannot afford to surrender this country and our democracy to the galamsey cartels any more than we can to drug cartels or other mafias,” he declared, calling for urgent action.
He urged both political leaders and citizens to recognize the urgent need to confront and dismantle the galamsey networks that have taken hold of the country’s natural resources and political space.
“This is where we must draw the line in the sand, lest we go down the slippery slope!” Professor Prempeh emphasized.
One of the most damning aspects of Professor Prempeh’s critique is his assertion that political leaders, far from confronting the galamsey menace, are instead allowing these criminal enterprises to thrive, often for fear of losing electoral support.
Professor Prempeh’s rallying cries “#SayNoToTheGalamseyCartels” and “#SaveOurDemocracyFromEcoCriminalCartels” underscore his broader appeal for a national movement against the galamsey cartels.
His remarks challenged every Ghanaian, especially those in positions of political leadership, to prioritize the country’s long-term well-being over short-term electoral gains or personal enrichment.
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