By Kamal Ahmed, GNA
Somanya(E/R), Feb 1, GNA – Political interference, corruption and weak enforcement of law are undermining Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, experts have warned.
According to them, Ghana’s battle against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, is faltering due to rooted political influence, bribery and poor regulation.
The searchlight on the weaknesses was thrown at University of Environment and Sustainable Development’s (UESD) Sixth Commencement Lecture in Somanya.
Delivering the keynote on the theme: “Securing the Environment: Challenging the Galamsey Menace,” Prof. Gibrilla Abass, a Water Resources Scientist and Isotope Hydrologist, noted that successive government interventions have failed because the issue has been politicised.
He cited state-led initiatives, including the 2017 ban by the Inter-Ministerial Committee, Operation Vanguard, Galamstop in 2019 and the Blue Water Guards introduced in 2025, all to tackle the illegal mining menace, which however failed to achieve the desired results.
“While the programmes showed early potential, they could not succeed as political pressure, bribery, weak regulation, and the influx of foreign nationals steadily eroded their impact,” he said.
Prof. Abass noted that galamsey has shifted from small-scale indigenous practices to destructive operations involving heavy machinery and toxic chemicals.
He stated that rivers, farmlands, and forest reserves have suffered severe damage, with water pollution posing grave risks to public health and livelihoods.
The lecture featured a panel of academics, civil society groups, and environmental advocates who called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, traditional authorities, and local communities.
They stressed that sustained advocacy and enforcement are critical to reversing the damage.
Prof. Abass also criticised Ghana’s limited investment in scientific research, saying, “Without research, the fight against galamsey becomes reactionary rather than strategic.”
He urged the government and the Ministry of Education to support UESD’s role in environmental protection.
He described the establishment of UESD as “the most significant step we have taken as a nation in protecting our environment,” adding that the university must be supported to continue its advocacy, research, and public education to drive policy change.
UESD Vice-Chancellor Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson urged universities to transcend theory and actively engage with policymakers and communities affected by illegal mining activities.
He announced plans to expand postgraduate programmes to build expertise in environmental protection and mining-related challenges.
He highlighted existing MSc and MPhil programmes in Environmental Restoration Studies and revealed efforts by the university to introduce MSc Environment, Health and Safety, and MSc/MPhil in Environmental Toxicology.
“These programmes aim to assess the environmental and health impacts of toxic substances released through mining and to develop mitigation strategies,” he said.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson further disclosed plans for a PhD programme to strengthen advanced research and policy engagement.
He reaffirmed the UESD’s commitment to advocacy, community education, and student-led environmental leadership.
He stressed that safeguarding the environment was vital to national development and that “Collective effort, scientific research, and robust policy enforcement remain the most effective tools in confronting illegal mining in Ghana.”
The lecture, held at the UESD’s Multi-Purpose Building, drew students, lecturers, traditional leaders, activists, civil society organisations and development partners.
GNA
Edited by D.I. Laary/Benjamin Mensah