By Akosua Frema Frempong
The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) has held a workshop in Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti Region, to examine the safety and security implications of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, in communities across the Ashanti and Western Region.
The meeting brought together traditional authorities, security agencies and policymakers to discuss strategies aimed at addressing the growing threat posed by illegal mining.
Participants highlighted that illegal mining has evolved from being largely an environmental problem to a major security and governance concern in several communities.
The workshop formed part of a broader research initiative by KAIPTC to examine the long-term impact of illegal mining on Ghana’s stability and to generate recommendations to guide national policy.
Illegal mining, widely referred to as galamsey, continues to pose a major challenge to Ghana, affecting water bodies, forests and local livelihoods. Some affected areas have also been designated security zones due to rising tensions linked to mining activities.
Security concerns
Speaking at the workshop, the Commandant of KAIPTC, David Anetey Akrong, expressed concern about the increasing link between illegal mining and the circulation of illegal weapons in remote mining communities.
“A great concern emerging from our engagements in parts of this region is the increasing link between illegal mining and the circulation of illegal or improvised weapons in remote and contested areas,” he said.
He noted that in some mining areas there are signs of heightened security postures, where the threat or use of force is employed to protect financial interests, secure access to land or deter rival groups and state intervention.
According to him, this development raises serious risks for both community members and frontline security personnel.
Air Vice Marshal Akrong added that the problem also connects local mining activities to broader patterns of organised crime and illicit financial flows beyond the region and even the country.
“The complexity of the challenges we face in the Ashanti Region cannot be addressed through isolated interventions,” he said.
“They require sustained collaboration among institutions, communities, traditional authorities and development partners, guided by a shared commitment to safety, accountability and inclusive development.”
Call for collaboration
The Municipal Chief Executive for Asokwa Municipal Assembly, Amoh Kamel, said he hoped the outcomes of the workshop would help shape national strategies and policies for responsible resource management.
“Our land must remain productive and our communities must be safe. This responsibility lies with all of us,” he said.
He added that the initiative would provide practical insights that could guide national policy towards responsible and sustainable management of mineral resources.
International concern
The Deputy Spanish Ambassador to Ghana and Togo, Isabel Ibarrah Serrano De Hora, also highlighted the growing link between illegal mining and organised crime.
She noted that illegal mining activities in the Ashanti Region have been associated with the use of illegal firearms and human trafficking, including labour and sexual exploitation.
“They are part of a wider criminal economy that has taken root in several districts,” she said, adding that women and girls are often the most vulnerable.
According to her, foreign involvement has further complicated the situation through the introduction of transnational criminal networks, illicit capital and hazardous chemicals.
“This is not simply an environmental problem. It is a security challenge, a governance challenge and ultimately a human challenge,” she said.
Recommendations
Participants at the workshop recommended the use of advanced technology to monitor mining activities, strengthening community-level accountability and developing a comprehensive geological database to guide legal mining operations.
The research findings from the engagement are expected to contribute to policy discussions on tackling illegal mining and strengthening environmental and security governance in Ghana.
