Ghana is grappling with a worsening illegal mining (galamsey) crisis, sparking fierce political debate and public outcry. The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has threatened to strike if President Mahama's government fails to take decisive action, while the Minority in Parliament accuses the ruling NDC of hypocrisy and ineffective measures. Critics demand the prosecution of political figures and financiers involved in galamsey, and some are calling for a total ban on small-scale mining. The government claims to have made progress, but many stakeholders, including civil society and traditional leaders, insist that the environmental and social damage continues unabated. The crisis has become a major test of political will and governance, with urgent calls for tougher laws, enforcement, and accountability.
It’s honestly frustrating to see the government dragging its feet on the galamsey crisis when communities are suffering and the environment is being destroyed. Progressives have been warning for years that prioritizing corporate and political interests over people’s livelihoods and the health of our land would come back to haunt us. We need real accountability, not just empty promises—prosecute those political and business elites funding illegal mining, no matter their party. A total ban on small-scale mining isn’t the answer, though; what we need is smart regulation… Read more
This whole galamsey mess just shows why we need a government that actually stands up for ordinary people and the environment, not just the interests of bigwigs and their cronies.
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