Ghanaian officials urge new strategies to combat illegal mining

Stakeholders in Ghana are calling for a shift in strategy to combat 'galamsey', the country's widespread illegal mining practice. Paa Kwesi Schandorf, spokesperson for the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), has urged politicians to cease partisan finger-pointing between the NPP and NDC. Schandorf noted that political tension regarding the issue often stalls progress and that the environmental and social costs, such as lack of clean water, affect communities regardless of which party is in power.

Complementing this call for political de-escalation, economic policy analyst Senyo Hosi suggested that the government must move beyond enforcement-led raids and seizures. Hosi argues that the current strategy is not winnable because illegal mining remains highly lucrative, sometimes paying between GHS2,000 and GHS10,000 a week to local workers. He proposes that the state should focus on making responsible, small-scale mining more profitable and financially attractive than illegal operations to ensure long-term success in protecting rivers and forest reserves.