Ghanaians Demand Action Against Illegal Mining in Peaceful Protests

Hundreds of Ghanaians marched through the capital, Accra, on Friday in a peaceful protest against illegal gold mining, known locally as galamsey. Protesters called on the government to intensify its efforts to curb the environmentally destructive practice, which has surged in response to a global rise in gold prices.

The galamsey industry has been a contentious issue in Ghana, Africa’s largest gold producer, where illegal small-scale mining operations are responsible for around 70%-80% of all small-scale mines. In the first seven months of this year, these mines produced 1.2 million ounces of gold, exceeding the total for all of 2023, according to the country’s mining regulator. But while this sector plays a crucial role in the economy, contributing nearly half of Ghana’s total gold production, it is largely unregulated, and its impacts are severe.

Environmental and Social Concerns

Illegal mining poses significant threats to Ghana’s environment, economy, and public health. The unlicensed operations are known to pollute rivers and soils, destroy forests and cocoa farms, and endanger the health of miners and nearby communities. The galamsey operations often employ heavy machinery, dredging rivers and excavating land without concern for rehabilitation, leaving a trail of environmental destruction. Polluted waterways have led to disease outbreaks and water shortages in some regions, threatening the livelihoods of many rural Ghanaians who depend on agriculture and clean water.

During Friday’s protest, demonstrators—many of them holding placards—participated in an “environmental prayer walk,” delivering a petition to the president’s office calling for an immediate ban on illegal mining. “This is not just a crisis but a fight for our nation’s soul,” declared Brownson Adatsi, leader of the Free The Citizens Movement, which organised the protest. “Our children’s future is at stake, and we cannot, and will not, stand by while our nation is ravaged by greed and negligence.”

A Growing Political and Social Issue

As Ghana approaches its general election on December 7, the issue of galamsey has become a major political talking point. Incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo faces mounting pressure to act decisively against illegal mining, as citizens demand solutions to both environmental destruction and Ghana’s ongoing economic challenges. The country is grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades, and the lack of regulation in small-scale mining has exacerbated frustrations over corruption, unemployment, and environmental degradation.

The government has been working to address the issue, but efforts to crack down on illegal mining have been met with limited success. Earlier this week, the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana’s largest labour union, called for an indefinite nationwide strike to demand an immediate ban on galamsey. While the government made certain promises that led to a partial suspension of the strike, protests and calls for stricter enforcement continue.

The Road Ahead: Striking a Balance Between Economy and Environment

While Ghana’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector officially accounts for about a third of the country’s gold production, not all of it is illegal. However, the growing use of heavy machinery and the unregulated nature of many operations have turned what was once a small-scale, manual industry into an industrialised environmental hazard. Critics argue that there is a need for a more robust regulatory framework that ensures miners can contribute to the economy without causing irreparable harm to the environment.

As Ghana’s leadership faces pressure to balance the economic benefits of gold mining with the need for environmental protection and social justice, the protests in Accra serve as a reminder that the issue of galamsey is not just an environmental challenge—it is a question of Ghana’s future and its ability to safeguard the wellbeing of its people and land.

The outcome of these protests and the government’s response in the lead-up to the elections will be closely watched by a nation yearning for change, accountability, and sustainable development.