Ghana’s future at the mercy of illegal miners (galamsey)

Dying in a pit dug in your own home by irresponsible individuals (galamseyers) in their pursuit of wealth is a tragedy no one should experience. Yet, this has become the grim reality in Ghana. In 2022 alone, over 27 people, including a pregnant woman and two teenagers, lost their lives in pits dug by illegal miners within their homes in the Ashanti Region. Tragically, early in 2023, a 14-year-old girl and two other women faced the same fate.

As of October 2024, there have been numerous reports of deaths related to abandoned illegal mining pits. Some of these incidents include:

• Tragic Twin Loss: Two-and-a-half-year-old twins fell into an abandoned galamsey pit filled with water in Morkwaa, Central Region, resulting in their deaths.
• Sefwi Akuraa Incident: A three-year-old girl was found dead in an illegal mining pit in Sefwi Akuraa, Western Region.
• Kobriso Romanmu Community: Three illegal miners—Kwasi Darkwa (24), Kofi Asante (30), and Yaw Ibrahim (39)—died when a galamsey pit collapsed in the Eastern Region.
• Birim North District Tragedy: Seven people died, and 17 others were trapped after an illegal mining pit caved in at Korle Teye (Takorso site) in the Eastern Region. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1UWmHwSL1JBH99w2/

While some perish by falling into these dangerous pits, others suffer from the contamination of rivers, their primary source of drinking water polluted by illegal mining.

The future of Ghana is increasingly endangered by the devastating impact of illegal mining, known locally as galamsey. What began as a small-scale activity has now spiraled into a nationwide crisis, threatening the country’s environment, water sources, farmlands, and economy. Galamsey has not only poisoned rivers, turning them into toxic wastelands, but it has also ravaged fertile farmlands, displaced communities, and led to tragic, preventable deaths.

At a roundtable discussion on Citi TV, experts revealed that illegal miners not only dig into riverbeds in search of minerals but also use mercury in their operations. Mercury particles are washed into the water systems, further polluting the remaining water sources in affected communities. The situation has become so dire that, in 2021, a U.S.-based non-governmental organization provided clean water to residents in some communities whose rivers were rendered unusable by illegal mining.

Media reports have warned that if the government fails to stop “galamsey” (illegal mining), Ghana may soon be forced to import water. Rivers such as the Offin and Pra have become wastelands, filled with abandoned pits and gullies. Water sachets, which sold for 10 pesewas in 2014, now cost 50 pesewas due to the rising scarcity of clean water.

The devastation extends to farmlands as well. The Ashanti Region, once a major supplier of agricultural produce in Ghana, has seen 25 out of its 43 districts affected by illegal mining, resulting in a significant reduction in food production. Even farmers who manage to plant crops face difficulties transporting their produce to markets, as galamsey activities have destroyed many rural roads.

Ghana is blessed with a variety of precious minerals, and gold accounts for about 95% of the country’s mineral revenue. Mining, the extraction of minerals such as gold, silver, bauxite, and oil, has historically contributed significantly to Ghana’s economy. In fact, the country’s colonial name, the Gold Coast, reflects its rich gold reserves. As of the second quarter of 2021, the mining and quarrying sector contributed around 4.9 billion Ghanaian cedis (approximately 809.4 million USD) to the nation’s GDP.

The revenue from mining is vital for funding schools, hospitals, roads, and other essential infrastructure. However, when mining is unregulated, as in the case of illegal mining, it leads to environmental destruction, loss of agricultural land, and a decline in water quality. This, in turn, threatens food and water security, driving up the cost of living. By early 2023, Ghana’s inflation had soared to 53%, fueled in part by the negative effects of illegal mining.

Ghana’s mining sector is governed by the Minerals and Mining Act 703 of 2006, which stipulates that no one can conduct reconnaissance, prospecting, or mining without a license. Historically, mining was state-owned, but since the privatization of the sector in 1980, mineral rights have been granted to private entities. Mining without a license, commonly referred to as galamsey, not only encourages smuggling but also reduces the country’s mineral revenue.

As illegal mining wreaks havoc on the environment, food and water supplies, and the economy, many Ghanaians have voiced their concerns, with protests and demonstrations demanding government intervention. Unfortunately, the fight against galamsey has become heavily politicized. While some praise the government for its efforts to curb illegal mining, others argue that these efforts have been inadequate. What Ghanaians truly desire is the complete eradication of illegal mining, not just debates over which political party has done more.

Despite government measures, such as burning excavators, arresting illegal miners, and deploying drones to detect galamsey activities, the problem persists. Some media reports suggest that influential figures, including politicians and traditional leaders, are complicit in illegal mining, which is why these efforts have yielded little success. https://youtu.be/odTX9NlnH5w?si=9mveLrKssU_yVFJI

The only group benefiting from illegal mining is the miners themselves, often at the expense of entire communities. Even worse, the wealth generated from galamsey rarely contributes to the development of the regions it destroys. For example, in August 2022, the government spent over $404 million in its fight against illegal mining. Yet, these funds are used to fix problems caused by a practice that yields short-term financial gain for a few, while inflicting long-term harm on many.

While galamsey offers employment to some of Ghana’s unemployed youth, it is not without dire consequences, as many of these young miners lose their lives in the process. Galamsey is a dangerous practice that threatens both human life and the country’s economy, Ghana’s future and it must be stopped immediately. The fight against illegal mining is now a matter of life and death. Urgent, decisive action is needed to protect lives, preserve farmlands, and restore water bodies. Ghana faces a critical moment, and the future of her children, her next generation, and the nation itself depends on eradicating this destructive practice.