Galamsey Fight in Ghana: Old approach will not give us new results

To contain the prevailing High-Tech Galamsey (HTG) immediately, as an illegality, or contain it gradually has become an obvious dilemma for Ghana. Containing the HTG operations immediately is the right way to go!

Understandably, those who may benefit directly from the ‘loot’ of the ongoing galamsey business are putting up resistance and should be exposed if need be.

Considering the rate at which our forest cover is removed, water bodies are polluted, and biodiversity is rapidly lost via indiscriminate HTG operations, we are sitting on a time bomb to blow up on us as a nation and future generations if pragmatic steps are not taken to address it timeously.

As an advocate for immediate containment of the prevailing HTG menace, I feel distressed to consume Media reports of HTG operations near our major rivers and forest reserves going on as we speak, according to Mr. Erastus Donkor of Joy News.

It appears to me that Ghanaians are losing sight of the heightened HTG phenomenon going on for the past 8 years and think that we are fighting the normal, traditional galamsey that has been with us for several decades.

The prevailing HTG is far more destructive than the traditional galamsey, as evidenced by heavily polluted rivers and destroyed forest reserves now.

The previous Akufo-Addo-led regime miserably failed the fight against this HTG menace because of self-inflicted, unchecked mining activities coupled with an insincere and half-hearted approach adopted by his government to fight this dangerous land use practice.

Although the previous Akufo-Addo-led regime made frantic efforts, including military campaigns and putting his ‘Presidency on the line in this matter’ to address this HTG phenomenon, they turned out to be ineffective due to a lack of a dedicated and systematic approach from his government.

Considering the renewed energy and good signals given by the Mahama-led government to tackle this ongoing galamsey matter, I am still concerned about the measures taken and to be taken to find lasting solutions to this dangerous HTG issue.

Indeed, we cannot expect to generate new and sustainable results in the HTG fight by relying on old approaches that did not work well in the past. We should rather review those old approaches and see what to change and make them work better in this fight. It is, thus, imperative for the Mahama-led government to modify the old approach(es) used by former President Akufo-Addo, which did not work.

For instance, the Mahama-led government should use a systematic approach with a high sense of urgency by imposing a state of emergency on galamsey, assess the extent of damage, identify and arrest saboteurs pretending to be doing legal small-scale mining, as well as providing education to people to help the government to contain this HTG debacle.

With the 18-member committee put in place by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, I hope a systematic approach will be considered to contain this raging HTG problem while looking for alternative livelihood opportunities for affected Galamseyers and other unemployed youth in the system and strengthening the regulatory regime on mining.

We cannot afford to allow the destruction to be going on in the name of providing jobs first to affected Galamseyers who are engaging in illegality and destroying our natural environment.

Another effective way to start is the active involvement of all local community leaders and chiefs in affected areas to immediately help the government to sensitize people in their communities regarding the adverse effects of HTG operations on them.

As part of the solution, a regular update on the HTG fight, including government measures taken, should be put in place. This will help Ghanaians to collectively discuss and find lasting solutions to this HTG menace.

While at this, a National Dialogue on Galamsey should be held as soon as possible to enable key stakeholders to make presentations and brainstorm on HTG to create nationwide awareness of this environmental emergency (see details on previous publication: https://www.modernghana.com/news/1372253/a-clarion-call-to-president-mahama-to-hold-a-nati.html, 16 Jan 2025).

Although we should commend President Mahama on his demonstrated commitment to dealing with the galamsey menace in less than two months in office, there should be more urgency and sustained attention paid to the HTG fight.

This HTG fight is winnable, but we should systematically address it by modifying the measures used previously and finding sustainable solutions instead of using a ‘firefighting’ approach. Let us not expect new or demonstrable results in the HTG fight with old ways of tackling it.