In many mining communities across the Ashanti, Western and Eastern regions, illegal mining, also known as galamsey, has become a major source of employment, particularly for young people facing limited job opportunities.
For many families, it represents a means of survival in areas where economic alternatives are scarce.
This raises a difficult but important question: can galamsey be transformed into a legal and productive sector that supports national development?
Ghana remains one of Africa’s leading gold producers, with small-scale mining playing a vital role in the country’s gold output.
Data from Ghana’s mining sector indicates that small-scale mining has at times contributed more than one-third of the nation’s gold production, highlighting its economic importance.
When properly regulated, this sector holds the potential to create jobs, boost government revenue and promote local economic development.
However, the current form of illegal mining has serious environmental impacts.
Major rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, Offin and Birim have suffered from alarming levels of pollution due to mining activities.
These water bodies are essential sources of drinking water for millions of Ghanaians and their contamination endangers public health and water security.
The challenge for Ghana is, therefore, not simply about eliminating mining activities carried out by local communities, but about transforming the sector responsibly and sustainably.
At the same time, long-term solutions must tackle the root cause of youth unemployment.
Investments in climate-smart agriculture, rural industrialisation and renewable energy projects could generate alternative employment in mining communities.
Skills training and entrepreneurship programmes can also empower young people with opportunities beyond illegal mining.
Technology and stronger governance will also be vital.
Satellite monitoring, digital licensing platforms and improved cooperation between government agencies and local communities can increase transparency and accountability in the mining sector.
Ultimately, the persistence of galamsey reflects a broader development challenge. It reveals the struggle between the need for economic survival and the responsibility to protect Ghana’s natural resources.
If Ghana can effectively shift the energy and labour currently driving illegal mining into regulated small-scale mining and sustainable economic opportunities, the country could transform a national crisis into a pathway for inclusive development.
The writer is in the climate & economic policy sector.
Kumasi Saabo Zongo, Ashanti Region.
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Source:
www.graphic.com.gh