Effutu MP and Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin has raised alarm over the growing politicization of Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, warning that partisan blame games are overshadowing real solutions.
According to Afenyo-Markin, campaign messages from the then opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) played a significant role in the ruling party’s poor performance in mining regions during the 2020 elections. He argues that political interests have clouded the national response to galamsey an issue that demands unity, not division.
Meanwhile, illegal mining continues to wreak havoc across the country. Rivers are being poisoned with mercury, forests destroyed, and farmlands rendered useless especially in the Ashanti, Eastern, and Western Regions. Entire communities are suffering, with water contamination and environmental degradation threatening lives and livelihoods.
Despite high profile government crackdowns like Operation Vanguard, illegal mining remains rampant. Experts say enforcement alone has failed and often backfires when officials and security personnel are either complicit or turn a blind eye.
Instead, they are calling for a bold new approach:
Clean, corruption-free law enforcement: Agencies must act independently and transparently, without political interference or local collusion.
Public education: Many Ghanaians do not fully grasp the long-term dangers of galamsey from water scarcity to food insecurity to health crises.
Economic alternatives for the youth: With few job opportunities, young people are often pushed into illegal mining out of desperation. Real change requires investments in skills training, job creation, and sustainable livelihoods.
Civil society groups are now stepping in to fill the leadership gap. Organizations like Democracy Hub are mobilizing nationwide protests, submitting petitions, and raising public awareness.
The international community is also taking notice. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has declared galamsey a human rights emergency, warning that it threatens access to clean water and basic living standards.
President John Mahama has renewed his commitment to fighting illegal mining. But many Ghanaians say much more needs to be done especially in enforcing mining laws, empowering local communities, and ensuring accountability at every level.
