Ghana renews commitment to joint fight against galamsey with Côte d'Ivoire

The Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, has reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to working closely with Côte d’Ivoire to protect shared river bodies from the destructive effects of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

He made the remarks during a bilateral meeting with Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Environment at the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, where both countries discussed growing concerns over the pollution of transboundary water resources.

The discussions focused on the increasing threat illegal mining poses to river systems shared by Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and other countries in the sub-region, particularly the Tano-Bia River Basin.

Tariff hikes alone won’t fix power sector inefficiencies - Experts

According to Seidu Issifu, protecting shared water resources remains crucial to ensuring climate resilience and sustainable development across the region.

"Protecting our shared water resources is not only an environmental necessity but also a critical component of climate resilience and sustainable development. Pollution upstream in Ghana becomes a crisis downstream in Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia," he stated.

The meeting also revisited efforts made by both countries since 2016, when concerns were first raised about the impact of illegal mining activities in Ghana on water quality in Côte d’Ivoire.

Subsequently, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2017 to coordinate efforts aimed at tackling pollution in the shared river basin.

The ministers warned that the continued degradation of water resources could threaten public health, food security and livelihoods, while increasing the risk of displacement and social tensions.

As part of the discussions, Côte d’Ivoire called for a stronger regional response to illegal mining and proposed the involvement of water resource and forestry authorities from both countries in surveillance and enforcement activities.

The Ivorian Environment Minister also urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to take a leading role in coordinating efforts to combat the menace across the region.

Seidu Issifu further disclosed that he would engage the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to explore practical areas of collaboration and joint action.

He also called on other African countries to support efforts to protect the Bia River Basin and other shared water resources, stressing that environmental challenges of this nature require collective action.

"Addressing environmental threats such as illegal mining requires coordinated regional action and shared responsibility among all affected countries," he noted.

ANAS/MA

Inside the AI revolution that could save lives on Ghana's roads