By Adu Koranteng
Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, remains one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges.
From polluted rivers and destroyed farmlands to health hazards in mining communities, the impact has been devastating. Successive governments have pledged to tackle the issue, but the effectiveness of these efforts has varied significantly.
During the tenure of former President John Dramani Mahama, the political will to confront illegal mining was, by many accounts, notably absent. Between 2012 and 2017, illegal mining activities escalated in key regions, including Ashanti, Eastern, and Western.
While the public raised alarms and media outlets consistently reported on the growing crisis, the Mahama administration’s response was largely characterized by inertia.
Committees were formed, and occasional crackdowns were reported, but these actions lacked the coordination, consistency, and authority needed to bring about lasting change.
More troubling was the perception that political interests trumped environmental responsibility.
Many illegal mining operations were alleged to have links to influential figures and party affiliates, making enforcement politically inconvenient.
This reluctance to upset loyalists and power brokers undermined the credibility of institutions tasked with environmental regulation and law enforcement.
In contrast, the administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, though not without its shortcomings, approached the crisis with greater urgency.
The launch of Operation Vanguard and the imposition of a temporary ban on small-scale mining signaled a stronger political stance.
Though the results have been mixed and criticisms persist, the effort reflected a level of commitment that Mahama’s administration failed to exhibit.
The fight against galamsey cannot be sustained by lip service or symbolic gestures. It demands firm leadership, consistent enforcement, and the readiness to challenge entrenched interests — qualities that were sorely missing during Mahama’s presidency.
The long-term consequences of this failure are still evident in Ghana’s ravaged landscapes and polluted water bodies.
For President Mahama, the lack of decisive action against illegal mining remains a critical shortcoming and a cautionary tale of what happens when political will gives way to political expedience. Enditem
Email: Korantengadu@gmail.com
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