Dr. Steve Manteaw Identifies Foreign Financing as Key Driver of Illegal Mining in Ghana
Dr. Steve Manteaw, Chairperson of the CSO Alliance on Political Manifestos, has raised alarms over the growing influence of foreign financiers in illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) in Ghana.
Speaking during a panel discussion on GTV on the topic, “Environmental Mining and Climate Change,” Dr. Manteaw highlighted how foreign entities, particularly from Burkina Faso, are increasingly funding these illegal operations.
“The difficulty in stopping galamsey is due to the involvement of foreigners,” Dr. Manteaw stated. “Small-scale miners are operating illegally, pre-financed by foreign interests. This not only exacerbates environmental degradation but also poses risks of illicit financial flows and the financing of serious organized crime.”
He warned that funds derived from illegal mining could potentially support terrorist activities in the Sahel region, endangering Ghana’s security.
Ineffectiveness of Forceful Interventions
Dr. Manteaw criticized the ineffective task force approach previously adopted to combat galamsey, arguing that it failed under successive governments.
Instead, he advocated for a blend of moral persuasion and regulatory enforcement to encourage formalization among small-scale miners.
“Both parties seem to agree that brute force hasn’t worked,” he noted. “The focus should now shift to encouraging miners to formalize their activities, making it easier to regulate and enforce compliance.”
Regulatory Challenges
Highlighting gaps in Ghana’s regulatory framework, Dr. Manteaw emphasized the need for decentralization within the Minerals Commission to improve oversight.
“You cannot have effective compliance monitoring when regulatory offices are far apart,” he said, suggesting that local offices in mining communities could act as both regulatory hubs and incentives for formalization.
Dr. Manteaw also called for stricter enforcement of laws against illegal mining, including prosecuting complicit chiefs.
He cited the example of the Asantehene, who exposed the involvement of some chiefs in galamsey activities but noted the lack of follow-through by state institutions.
Opposition to Mining in Forest Reserves
On the topic of mining in forest reserves, Dr. Manteaw unequivocally opposed the idea, citing environmental and climate change concerns.
“Under no circumstances should we allow mining in forest reserves. Every tree we cut complicates our climate challenges,” he stressed, adding that Ghana’s extensive history of gold mining has not significantly transformed its economy.
Dr. Manteaw furthur called for a robust land-use and spatial planning strategy to protect agricultural lands and food security, emphasizing that indiscriminate land allocation for mining undermines these goals.
Political Commitments and Accountability
With elections approaching, Dr. Manteaw urged voters to scrutinize political parties’ records and commitments on addressing illegal mining and environmental issues. “It’s not about what the parties say but who can be trusted to deliver,” he concluded.
His remarks underline the urgent need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, policy reform, and political accountability to address the environmental and socio-economic consequences of illegal mining in Ghana.
