Project Director of the Democracy Project and fellow at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Prof. John Osae Kwapong, says the illegal mining menace, popularly known as galamsey, has evolved into a full-blown national security issue that demands urgent, coordinated action from the state.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Inside Pages, Prof. Osae Kwapong said the growing use of weapons by illegal miners raises serious concerns about the safety of local communities and the country at large.
“Any time these operations are carried out, there are reports of guns or certain kinds of weapons that are always found with these galamseyers,” he noted.
“So, depending on the number of galamsey sites across the country, if every site becomes an armed site, what does that mean for the security of those communities and the state?”
He explained that the increasing militarisation of illegal mining zones could force the government to rethink its strategy in tackling the menace.
Prof. Osae Kwapong also questioned the extent of institutional and political backing that allegedly protects galamsey operations from being shut down. He referenced recent reports involving two Members of Parliament accused of interfering in an anti-galamsey operation, saying such incidents expose deeper governance failures.
“You ask yourself, with all the institutions we have that can enforce the law, how do these incidents still happen?” he asked.
“It makes you wonder whether the problem goes beyond the young men on the ground. What enables this is the institutional backing they get from key actors.”
He argued that the fight against illegal mining will only be effective if authorities dismantle the “institutional architecture” that provides cover for those involved.
“If you really want to dismantle galamsey and fight it effectively, it goes beyond just arresting those on the sites,” he said.
“There is a whole system giving them comfort that must be dismantled.”
Touching on the involvement of young people in illegal mining, Prof. Osae Kwapong acknowledged the economic hardships that drive many of them into the activity.
He, however, warned that short-term gains cannot outweigh the long-term environmental and social damage caused by galamsey.
“We can all recognise the pinch points our youth face, but when you think of the long-term consequences, we need to find ways to channel their energies into something more productive,” he said.
He admitted that alternative livelihood programmes often struggle to compete with the high daily income galamsey offers, but maintained that they remain a crucial part of the solution.
“People say whatever an alternative livelihood programme offers pales in comparison to what they get from galamsey, but I still think it’s worth pursuing,” he said.
“We need to understand what worked, what didn’t, and improve on it.”
Prof. Osae Kwapong concluded that illegal mining has become one of Ghana’s most complex governance challenges, requiring a blend of strategies to address its social, economic, and security dimensions.
“It just tells you how difficult this fight is,” he said.
“It operates on many fronts, and any government that wants to fight it successfully would have to draw on multiple policy tools to deal with it effectively.”
The illegal mining debate continues to dominate national discussions, with experts and citizens alike calling for stronger political will, institutional accountability, and sustainable livelihood options to protect Ghana’s environment and future.
