Ghana is implementing new measures to tackle illegal mining, the presidency announced Wednesday, following growing public pressure on the government to address the escalating issue.
Illegal mining, locally called “galamsey,” poses significant environmental threats by contaminating soil and water in Ghana, the leading gold producer in Africa. In response, President Nana Akufo-Addo has ordered “the deployment of additional military personnel” and “naval boats on polluted rivers to ensure the immediate cessation of all mining activities, both legal and illegal, around these water bodies.”
To strengthen legal actions, four dedicated courts have been established to specifically handle illegal mining cases.
Illegal mining also endangers Ghana’s vital cacao industry, as economic hardship since 2022, driven by inflation and a financial crisis, has led many farmers to sell their land to illegal miners.
Protests erupted in the capital, Accra, in September over the government’s management of illegal mining, resulting in the arrest of 54 activists. This sparked further demonstrations demanding the release of the activists and a halt to “galamsey.” While courts released most of the protesters on Wednesday, one, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, remains in custody for leading the movement.
Trade unions, which had called for a nationwide strike on October 10 to pressure the government, suspended the strike after a meeting with President Akufo-Addo.
Ghana, home to 33 million people, has been navigating a financial crisis since 2022, which led to a debt default. The country’s economy is now stabilizing with a $3 billion relief package from the International Monetary Fund.
