The National Coalition on Mining (NCOM) has urged President John Dramani Mahama to demonstrate genuine political will in addressing the persistent issue of illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, by taking bold action against individuals within his party and government allegedly benefiting from the practice.
In a statement issued after a recent meeting between President Mahama and civil society organisations at the Jubilee House, the coalition stressed that the effectiveness of any anti-galamsey initiative would ultimately hinge on the President’s readiness to confront powerful political and business actors linked to illegal mining.
“The key political question remains: Will President Mahama have the political courage to act against those in his government and the NDC who are known or rumoured to be galamsey kingpins and facilitators? That ultimately will be the touchstone for the success or failure of any anti-galamsey programme,” the statement read.
While acknowledging President Mahama’s renewed commitment to tackling illegal mining, NCOM cautioned that the problem is far too complex to be addressed through militarised crackdowns or short term interventions.
The coalition argued that illegal mining is not merely a law enforcement issue, but a symptom of broader systemic challenges, including governance failures, poverty, and corruption.
“Galamsey is deeply rooted in structural problems and cannot be resolved through force alone,” the statement noted.
NCOM proposed a multi-faceted strategy that includes long-term investments in rural development, sustainable job creation, and comprehensive reforms in the small scale mining sector. It also emphasized the importance of building strong partnerships between government, civil society, and local communities to ensure a holistic and inclusive approach to the fight.
The coalition criticised previous government efforts such as Operation Flush Out, Operation Vanguard, and Operation Halt, stating that these military-led initiatives have yielded little lasting success and, in some cases, resulted in human rights abuses and economic hardship.
Instead, NCOM is calling for a well-resourced, transparent, and sustained national programme that addresses the root causes of galamsey and actively involves all stakeholders from national to community levels.
The coalition concluded that Ghana’s ability to overcome the environmental and social devastation caused by illegal mining will depend not just on policy or enforcement, but on the moral courage and integrity of its political leadership to confront those who benefit from the destruction.
