By Abigail Kyeremah Owusu
The fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, continues to spark public concern as citizens question whether the government’s measures are truly effective. Despite the introduction of military patrols, water guards, and police operations, many argue that the approach is misdirected and fails to address the root causes of the problem.
Speaking on GTV’s Breakfast Show during a call-in interview, the Coordinator of Eco-conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, said the government’s actions “have not been in the right direction.” According to her, the strategies appear “territory-targeted” and are not producing meaningful results. She stressed that efforts should focus on the broader system rather than piecemeal crackdowns that leave loopholes for illegal miners to exploit.
Awula also pointed out that while miners, water guards, and police officers are meant to play key roles in stopping the destruction of rivers and lands, corruption and weak enforcement undermine the campaign. “You have police officers who are supposed to arrest illegal miners, yet some of them end up conversing and compromising with them,” she remarked.
She further argued that the government must move beyond short-term measures and adopt a comprehensive strategy that tackles both the demand and supply sides of illegal mining. Without clear direction, she warned, the destruction of water bodies and farmlands will persist despite heavy investment in security and monitoring.
The Breakfast Show panelists, Professor Daniel Bruce, a clinical psychologist, and John Kuuku Gyan, a forensic psychiatrist, acknowledged her concerns, noting that illegal mining remains one of the toughest challenges for successive governments. They emphasized that without stronger political will, transparency, and community involvement, the fight against galamsey is likely to remain a losing battle.
