Galamsey funding politics, churches and media - Senyo Hosi claims

Economic policy analyst and convener of the OneGhana Movement, Senyo Hosi, has disclosed that proceeds from illegal small-scale gold mining, popularly known as galamsey, are funding Ghana’s politics, churches and media.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, August 22, 2026, Hosi, who is also a trustee of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, described the activity as an endemic problem deeply woven into the country’s social and economic fabric.

“I did quite some extensive study of the entire situation. The socioeconomic reality is that galamsey has become a livelihood. It is so endemic, you can hardly separate it from the path of politics, economics, and community harmony.

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Galamsey is funding our politics. Galamsey is funding our churches. Galamsey is funding the media. My brother, if we want to go and continue this passion, we will make no progress,” he stated in a video shared by Joy 99.7 FM.

Hosi further maintained that Ghana has passed the point where eradication through enforcement alone is feasible.

According to him, gold accounts for about 63 per cent of the country’s total exports, with more than half coming from artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).

“The politicians today; the economy is depending on it. 63% of our total exports are dependent on gold. More than half of it is ASM gold. There's no lying about the fact that most ASM can only come largely from galamsey.

"You can't hold gold back for it because there are licensed people coming in. And I must be honest, if I have to be honest in my policymaking and my policy analysis, our only path forward is fixing galamsey, not fighting and stopping galamsey,” he added.

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On the effectiveness of current interventions, Hosi said the country is “nowhere near winning the fight” and that available evidence, especially deteriorating water quality, shows Ghana is retrogressing.

The comments come amid ongoing national debate over the environmental, health and economic costs of galamsey, which has polluted major rivers, degraded forest reserves and farmlands, and raised concerns about food safety and long-term national security.

"Galamsey is funding our politics, churches, and media"

- Senyo Hosi on galamsey. #Newsfile pic.twitter.com/PD0hNapayJ

— Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) August 22, 2026