The Member of Parliament for Anyaa- Sowutuom Constituency, Hon. Dickson Adomako Kissi in a passionate discourse on the impact of illegal mining (galamsey) on Ghana’s water resources and its broader social consequences, has made a compelling case for urgent action.

Hon. Kissi stressed the necessity for a focused national effort, underscoring the depth of the crisis. Hon. Kissi remarks touched on several critical issues, ranging from the economic drivers of galamsey to the law enforcement challenges that have hampered efforts to address the problem.

Hon. Kissi indicated the deep-rooted nature of the galamsey problem and the difficulty in combating it.

“I’ve said in many places that the galamsey issue is Ghana’s drug issue and when you go to Mexico, they are not done dealing with the drugs. But you need a very special attention to this.”
Hon. Dickson Adomako Kissi Member of Parliament for Anyaa- Sowutuom Constituency

Hon. Kissi’s comparison highlighted the complexity of the galamsey situation, where various socioeconomic factors fuel its growth and make it resistant to traditional law enforcement measures. Just as drug cartels, the galamsey operators in Ghana have become influential and hard to dislodge.

A significant part of Hon. Kissi’s concerns focused on the inadequacies of law enforcement in tackling illegal mining. He pointed out that, the personnel deployed to fight galamsey often find themselves enticed by the lucrative nature of the illegal mining industry.

“…Are we going to rather change the caliber or the kind of remuneration we give to our law enforcement people who handle the galamsey issue?”
Hon. Dickson Adomako Kissi Member of Parliament for Anyaa- Sowutuom Constituency

Hon. Kissi further elaborated that, this lack of adequate compensation is not only a problem for the law enforcement officers but also extends to the judicial system.

“The law enforcement, the legal arm—what I mean by that is the judges who sit on mining issues—have to be very well compensated so that they are not influenced.”
Hon. Dickson Adomako Kissi Member of Parliament for Anyaa- Sowutuom Constituency

This call for improved compensation and tighter oversight is central to Hon. Kissi’s proposed solution for addressing the Galamsey crisis. Without adequate checks and balances, he believes the fight against illegal mining will continue to be undermined by corruption and bribery.

The Allure of Quick Money: Economic Drivers of Galamsey

Hon. Kissi did not shy away from addressing the economic incentives that drive ordinary Ghanaians to engage in illegal mining. He drew a stark comparison between the financial returns from galamsey and those from traditional farming, specifically cocoa farming.

“One man said that since he’s been doing cocoa farming for ages, he’s never seen that kind of money, and he gives his entire cocoa farm to the galamseyers. If they want to dig another cocoa farm that he has, he will gladly give it away.”
Hon. Dickson Adomako Kissi Member of Parliament for Anyaa- Sowutuom Constituency

This statement illustrates the extent to which galamsey has become an economically rational choice for many Ghanaians. The promise of quick, substantial returns from illegal mining has overshadowed the long-term benefits of sustainable agricultural practices like cocoa farming. This, according to Hon. Kissi, has had devastating effects on Ghana’s cocoa production.

“Ghana has dropped in terms of our ranking with cocoa production… From an economic standpoint, if a ton of gold gives you x amount of money, and a ton of cocoa gives you x amount of money, the ordinary guy on the street is hustling. It’s a no-brainer. He’ll go for the gold.”
Hon. Dickson Adomako Kissi Member of Parliament for Anyaa- Sowutuom Constituency

The Role of Chiefs and Community Leaders in the Crisis

Hon. Kissi also touched on the complicity of traditional authorities in the spread of galamsey. He noted that, traditional leaders, who are custodians of the land, have also fallen prey to the temptations of illegal mining. The failure of local leaders to prevent calamity from taking root in their communities has been a significant hurdle in addressing the crisis.

“The chiefs can easily be bought. I mean, I heard one man say that since he’s been doing cocoa farming for ages, he’s never seen that kind of money… That has become the reality.”
Hon. Dickson Adomako Kissi Member of Parliament for Anyaa- Sowutuom Constituency

This insight from Hon. Kissi underscored the complexity of the problem, where community leaders who should be protecting the land are instead being drawn into the illicit trade. Hon. Kissi endorsed the idea of treating it as a national emergency.

“When it comes to the drug enforcement unit, they are checking every kobo that goes into that person’s account… The officers, about 10 people are monitoring your activities. You dare not.”
Hon. Dickson Adomako Kissi Member of Parliament for Anyaa- Sowutuom Constituency

Hon. Kissi called for a temporary ban on small-scale mining to allow for a reassessment of the situation. He believes that without decisive action, the galamsey crisis will continue to erode Ghana’s social, environmental, and economic fabric.

“Until we get to that level where we see this as a cancer… the activities of mining are going to increase or have already increased the cancer cases in this country, and it’s a huge burden on us.”
Hon. Dickson Adomako Kissi Member of Parliament for Anyaa- Sowutuom Constituency

Hon. Dickson Adomako Kissi’s highlights shed light on the multifaceted nature of Ghana’s galamsey crisis. From the economic drivers that entice individuals into illegal mining to the structural challenges in law enforcement and the judiciary, he called for urgent national attention. Hon. Kissi’s recommendation for improved compensation and stricter oversight for those fighting galamsey reflects his belief that the problem requires a multifaceted and well-coordinated response.