By Nadia Ntiamoah
Illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, has tightened its grip on the Western Region, with 12 out of 14 districts now severely affected by the destructive activity, according to a stark warning issued by the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson.
The Minister made the revelation during a strategic meeting with the leadership of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, who paid him a courtesy visit to introduce their new executives and discuss collaborative efforts to address the galamsey menace.
In what appears to be one of the most alarming assessments of the situation to date, Nelson described the Region as being “under siege,” emphasizing the urgency of coordinated and intensified action to combat the crisis.
“Out of the 14 districts of my Region, 12 are under siege… it’s a huge one and the fight must be bigger,” he stated. “We must be able to stop the negative activities and their deadly effects with proper collaboration and the laws well situated.”
The Western Region, which houses the bulk of Ghana’s natural mineral wealth and some of the country’s biggest mining companies, has long been the epicenter of legal and illegal mining activities.
However, in recent years, galamsey has escalated into an environmental and socio-economic emergency, polluting rivers, degrading forest reserves, and threatening the livelihoods of farmers and communities.
The Regional Minister called on the Ghana Chamber of Mines to move beyond rhetoric and adopt innovative, proactive solutions.
He tasked the Chamber to collaborate more effectively with multinational mining firms operating in Ghana and to leverage their resources and expertise to assist government and law enforcement agencies in curbing illegal trade.
Chamber of Mines Commits to Support
Responding to the Minister’s call, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, affirmed the Chamber’s readiness to partner in a multi-stakeholder strategy against galamsey.
He stressed the need for the intelligence community and security agencies to take a more focused and sustained role in the fight.
“We really need for the intelligence community to be dedicated to this cause,” Dr. Ashigbey said. “We are joined in the hip with you to work in the interest of Mother Ghana.”
To support enforcement efforts, Dr. Ashigbey revealed that the Chamber had already initiated some key interventions, including the specialized training of judges and magistrates in the Western, Central, and Western North regions.
The training is aimed at improving judicial understanding of Ghana’s mineral and land laws and speeding up the prosecution of illegal miners.
A Call for Renewed National Resolve
The situation in the Western Region is a microcosm of a broader national struggle.
Despite several military-led crackdowns, anti-galamsey task forces, and public policy pronouncements in recent years, illegal mining continues to thrive in many parts of the country.
Critics blame weak enforcement, political interference, and the lack of viable economic alternatives for rural youth as contributing factors.
