Franklin Cudjoe, founder and President of IMANI Africa, has expressed sharp criticism towards President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the recent military deployment aimed at combating illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey.”

According to Cudjoe, despite the government’s recurrent deployment of military personnel in anti-galamsey operations, these efforts have been largely ineffective, leading to significant wastage of resources.

Mr. Cudjoe argued that previous similar interventions, though costly, have yielded minimal success and questioned the sincerity behind the renewed efforts.

“This [The deployment] is like a game of tricks, smokes, and mirrors. Any serious person wanting to deal with this matter [galamsey] immediately will not send these advanced militia people to go and do what they are doing there. Have we not seen that before?”
Franklin Cudjoe, founder and President of IMANI Africa

Cudjoe’s comments reflect growing frustration among various stakeholders regarding the government’s perceived lack of progress in the fight against galamsey.

He particularly condemned the repetitive nature of the government’s tactics, which he views as ineffective in addressing the root causes of the illegal mining crisis.

“Almost 70 percent of your rivers are bloodened, and you are here doing two steps forward, four steps backwards, and we are clapping that they have started doing something.
“I don’t even know why we are applauding the deployment as if it was gifted.”
Franklin Cudjoe, founder and President of IMANI Africa

He further questioned the government’s calls for collective efforts to fight galamsey, referencing President Akufo-Addo’s earlier promises to put his presidency on the line in the battle against the illegal activity.

“You came to me to beg for votes, and now you are telling me to come together. Why is it a community labour?” Cudjoe questioned, expressing frustration over what he sees as the government’s inability to deliver on its promises.

On Thursday, October 10, the government renewed its efforts to tackle galamsey by deploying over 100 armed military personnel to guard various water bodies across the country.

This move, described as part of the government’s efforts to save Ghana’s depleting natural resources, has stirred mixed reactions from the public, with some lauding the move and others, like Cudjoe, remaining skeptical.

Criticism from Other Stakeholders

Yaw Nsarkoh, Member of Ghana Anti-Galamsey Coalition

Mr. Cudjoe’s remarks are not the only voices of discontent. Yaw Nsarkoh, a member of the Ghana Anti-Galamsey Coalition, also criticized the government’s approach, labeling it as grossly insufficient.

Mr. Nsarkoh pointed to the continued degradation of Ghana’s water bodies, farmlands, and forests as evidence of the ineffectiveness of the measures taken thus far.

He argued that despite the government’s many promises and interventions, illegal miners continue to operate with impunity, undermining efforts to preserve the country’s natural resources.

“Tackling galamsey requires more than just surface-level initiatives. It calls for strict enforcement of laws, transparency in the mining sector, and holding perpetrators accountable.”
Yaw Nsarkoh, Member of Ghana Anti-Galamsey Coalition

Mr. Nsarkoh argued that the current government efforts lack the necessary deterrence to stop illegal mining operators from continuing their activities.

Mr. Nsarkoh called on the government to intensify its fight by implementing stronger policies and working closely with stakeholders, including civil society organizations and local communities.

He urged the public to remain vigilant and actively support initiatives aimed at ending illegal mining to safeguard the environment for future generations.

Both Cudjoe and Nsarkoh agreed that the government’s current interventions are not enough to curb the galamsey menace. While they acknowledge the efforts being made, they believe that these measures fall short in addressing the scale of the environmental damage and the lack of accountability within the mining sector.

In the coming months, the government will likely face increasing scrutiny over its handling of the galamsey crisis. Stakeholders across the board agree that decisive, comprehensive action is needed if the country’s natural resources are to be preserved for future generations.

For now, the renewed efforts remain under the critical eye of civil society leaders like Franklin Cudjoe, who demand more than symbolic gestures in the fight against galamsey.