Elected in 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana stated that he was prepared to put his presidency ‘on the line’ to fight Galamsey, the name given to small-scale illegal gold mining in Ghana, derived from the phrase ‘gather them and sell’. Yet, in 2024 the situation has dramatically worsened, with predictions indicating that water pollution, directly caused by Galamsey, could force Ghana to start importing water by 2030, pollution having reached 60% of the requisite threshold. As the nation’s water supply becomes increasingly volatile, streets across the country have erupted in mass protests. However, despite the gravity of the situation, there remains meagre media coverage of the issue, with many protesters facing arrest over demonstrating against avarice-predicated water insecurity.
It is estimated that between twenty and fifty thousand people are involved, including thousands of foreign nationals, particularly from China, while around three million Ghanaians depend on it for their livelihood. Ghana has a longstanding history of gold mining, having previously been referred to as the ‘gold coast’ under British rule so it is unsurprising that gold mining is vital to Ghana’s economy. Recently, however, there has been a massive increase in mining, with small scale mines at the beginning of 2024 producing 1.2 million ounces of gold by July, more than the whole of 2023. It is said that a major cause of Galamsey is Ghana’s miserable economic climate, with an unemployment crisis facing the youth, and graduates struggling to find work notwithstanding skyrocketing job insecurity.
The illegal mining boom has come at a heartbreaking cost, namely a number of fatal mine collapses, with the most recent in September 2023 killing five, and the worst mine collapse in Ghanaian history to happen in 2009 killing an estimated 15-18 workers, 13 of them women. This is to say nothing of the environmental damage wreaked by gold mining. 34 out of the country’s 288 forest reserves have been affected with 4,726 hectares of forest land destroyed. Ghana Cocoa Board data has shown that recent production has remained at just over 429,323 tonnes which is less than 55% of its seasonal output. In Manukrom alone, Galamsey has wiped out over 100,000 acres of cocoa. The main concern regarding the damage to the environment is water supply, Galamsey has polluted water and key rivers like Pra and Ankobra, which were once sources of drinking water, have now been sullied by toxic chemicals, including mercury and cyanide.
The blatant environmental destruction and woeful government oversight, has led to mass protests, with even the Catholic church taking a stand against Galamsey. Over 50 protesters have been arrested and denied bail following a clash between the police and a group named Democracy hub, who played a key role in organising the three day protest that took place. Those arrested include Ghanaian lawyer and social media influencer, Ama Governor and Oliver Barker Vormawor, a key activist on Galamsey concerns, he helped orchestrate several protests and is reported to be severely ill in police custody without receiving adequate medical attention. Many have called out the police and the government for their handling of the protests, including John Mahama, opposition leader and presidential candidate, addressing the situation as an ‘abuse of human rights’ as protesters are facing multiple charges, including unlawful assembly. As a presidential election approaches in December, which will see President Akufo-Addo stepping down, it is important to note that he has previously used military action to tackle Galamsey in 2017 and has ordered to do the same now, yet despite previous actions, the issue has only worsened, leaving many wondering whether even a change in administration will bring the relief they need.
Despite the ongoing economic crisis in Ghana, which has been exacerbated by the alarming Galamsey epidemic, there has been a noticeable lack of attention from global media, which not only undermines the urgency of the situation but also cripples broader efforts to garner awareness and support. With communities devastated and whole ecosystems going the same way, it is only through an international groundswell that Ghana can reverse damages made and reorient towards a more sustainable, and less exploitative, future.
Image: Wikimedia Commons/Dame Yinka
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