Ben Boakye Blames Governance Failures for Ghana’s Escalating Galamsey Crisis
The ongoing debate surrounding illegal mining in Ghana, known locally as galamsey, has reached a critical juncture as policymakers, industry stakeholders, and civil society groups voice concerns over the environmental degradation and institutional failures that have allowed the practice to flourish. Despite successive government efforts to curtail galamsey, the illicit activity persists, driven by political interests, weak regulatory oversight, and a lack of effective enforcement mechanisms.
In a recent X Space discussion hosted by NorvanReports in collaboration with the Economic Governance Platform (EGP) on the topic, “Policy Failures and Institutional Weaknesses: A Critical Analysis of Ghana’s #StopGalamseyNow Efforts”, Ben Boakye, Executive Director of the African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), made a scathing assessment of the Government’s inability to address the galamsey menace.
Mr Boakye argued that the problem is symptomatic of broader governance and institutional failures that prioritize individual interests over national well-being, thereby undermining environmental protection efforts.
“At the core of the issue is the state’s failure to protect the citizenry and the environment,” he stated, highlighting that regulatory bodies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission, are mandated to ensure that mining activities adhere to environmental safeguards.
Yet, the issuance of mining licenses and environmental permits continues, despite widespread evidence of non-compliance with regulations. “This reflects a broader leadership failure where policies are designed to benefit a select few rather than serve the collective interest,” he added.
One of the most troubling aspects of the galamsey crisis is the transformation of illegal mining operations into legal entities through political patronage. Mr Boakye explained that many illegal mining concessions are retroactively legitimized, effectively converting what begins as an illicit activity into legal operations.
“These miners are often ahead of the curve,” he remarked. “They understand the areas they want to mine, begin operations illegally, and then apply for licenses, relying on political connections to secure approval.”
The close nexus between political power and mining concessions has stymied efforts to enforce the law as law enforcement agencies, including the police and military, are often deployed to stop illegal mining but are unable to act effectively due to the influence of powerful individuals behind these operations.
“The same people who send law enforcement to stop illegal activities are the ones benefitting from them,” he said, highlighting a structural conflict of interest that has crippled the state’s ability to regulate the sector.
The environmental cost of galamsey is immense, with rivers polluted by toxic chemicals, forests decimated, and agricultural lands rendered barren. Speaking further during the X Space discussion, the Executive Director of ACEP cited the ineffective enforcement of buffer zone regulations around river bodies as a key example of regulatory laxity.
“While miners may technically operate 100 metres away from rivers, their activities still severely impact the waterways because of the unregulated use of equipment that pumps waste directly into the rivers,” he explained.
Amid these challenges, Mr Boakye called for a decisive policy response, including the declaration of a state of emergency to halt all mining activities, both legal and illegal, as a necessary step toward addressing the crisis.
Such a measure, he argued, would allow the government to conduct an independent audit of mining operations and distinguish between those adhering to regulations and those engaged in destructive practices. “This is an existential threat to our environment,” he stressed. “We need to stop the operations now and take stock before allowing any mining to continue.”
He further warned that the focus on short-term gains from gold mining, often at the expense of long-term environmental sustainability, risks undermining other key sectors, particularly agriculture.
“Cocoa farms and other cash crops are being destroyed to make way for mining. This is a one-time gain for gold extraction, but the loss of recurrent agricultural revenues will have lasting consequences for the economy,” he said.
Mr Boakye’s remarks underscore the urgent need for stronger institutional accountability and a shift in policy focus from political expediency to sustainable development. He called on civil society organizations and organized labour to continue applying pressure on the government, ensuring that environmental protection becomes a central concern in the broader national agenda.
“We cannot sacrifice the future for short-term political and economic gains, the time to act is now before the damage becomes irreparable,” he concluded.
