By Daniel Bampoe
Standing before thousands of workers at the May Day celebration in Accra, President John Dramani Mahama made a defiant vow: the fight against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, is far from over—and he’s far from tired.
“The fight against galamsey is a complex one,” the President declared, facing a crowd that had just listened to a fiery address from the Labour Union General Secretary, who accused the government of failing to rein in the escalating destruction caused by illegal mining.
“And when I was vying for the presidency, I did not kid myself that when I come into office, I will win that fight in four months. Yet, we will not give up.”
The President’s remarks come at a time when public frustration over galamsey is intensifying, and pressure is mounting on his administration to show results.
Ghana’s water bodies—including the Pra, Ankobra, and Densu rivers—remain heavily polluted, and forest reserves continue to be ravaged despite decades of policy promises from both the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“Our gallant men of the Armed Forces and security services are up to the fight,” Mahama continued, highlighting the role of national security in the crackdown.
“We will continue to score successes against the selfish companies and individuals who are destroying our forests and polluting our water bodies.”
In a passionate conclusion, the President echoed a revolutionary mantra: “As far as the fight against galamsey is concerned, I say Aluta Continua.”
But beneath the slogans lies a bitter history of failed promises and broken interventions.
Since 2012, both NDC and NPP governments have vowed repeatedly to eradicate illegal mining and restore Ghana’s degraded lands. Yet the results have been piecemeal at best.
A Long Trail of Broken Promises
From 2012 to 2024, both major political parties have unveiled ambitious plans, each more aggressive than the last.
The NPP, which governed from 2017 to 2024, touted enforcement campaigns like GALAMSTOP, introduced community mining schemes, and trained over 4,000 artisanal miners in safe practices.
“We seized and destroyed over 12,000 ‘changfan’ machines,” claimed the party in its 2020 manifesto.
“We trained thousands in alternative livelihoods to reduce reliance on illegal mining.”
Despite these claims, illegal mining flourished, drawing widespread criticism of weak enforcement and political interference.
Reports from civil society groups and the Environmental Protection Agency show that by 2017, 60% of Ghana’s water bodies were already polluted, many beyond recovery.
The NDC, now back in power, had promised a more “ruthless” war on galamsey. In its 2024 manifesto, it pledged to ban new mining in forest reserves, amend mining laws for stricter punishment, and launch the ‘Blue Water Initiative’—a programme aimed at reversing water pollution through reforestation and land reclamation.
“We will implement a ‘Tree for Life’ policy,” the manifesto said.
“Our administration will turn degraded areas into ecological recovery hubs.”
The party also plans to establish a Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) to regulate small-scale mining, ensure environmental responsibility, and create sustainable mining livelihoods.
But critics say these are recycled ideas from past manifestoes.
In fact, many of the NDC’s 2024 proposals closely mirror what it promised in 2016—then in government
Back then, the party had vowed to partner with equipment owners, re-issue seized licenses, and track heavy machinery used in illegal operations.
Most of those ideas never materialized during its last term.
Systemic Failures, Weak Enforcement
Despite a plethora of laws—the Minerals and Mining Act, Environmental Protection Agency Act, and multiple Legislative Instruments—galamsey persists, largely due to poor enforcement.
Regulatory bodies are under-resourced, and political interference often cripples local efforts.
Unemployment and economic desperation drive many youth into illegal mining, especially in regions with few viable alternatives.
What Next for Mahama?
“I’m not tired of the galamsey fight,” he said, brushing aside claims of fatigue and failure. But he also offered no clear timeline or roadmap beyond the continuation of existing security operations.
