Even though the illegal small-scale mining has become an albatross on the neck of the country with successive governments failing in the fight, Security Consultant, Col. Festus Aboagye believes the battle is rather a straightforward one.
Ghana’s governments have been finding it difficult to address the illegal small-scale mining problem which has recently reached a crescendo. The country is currently experiencing the economic, environmental, health, and social impact of the menace.
Experts estimate that the economy loses $2.3 billion (GH¢ 36.8) in revenue annually accompanied by a significant reduction in water production. As of 2023, 60% of the country’s water bodies have been polluted by turbidity and poisonous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide. This has resulted in the rise of numerous respiratory, liver, and kidney diseases among residents in these areas with children highly at risk. Birth deformities are on the rise as there is also a significant reduction in the ecological integrity of the land.
Successive governments have implemented numerous operations and strategies to nib this canker in the bud but to no avail after millions of resources have been utilized.
Following these prevalent failures, the former military officer says given the nature of the menace, addressing it shouldn’t be a problem for the country.
In a policy brief on the situation copied to The High Street Journal, Col. Festus Aboagye explained that the menace of illegal mining is not peculiar to only Ghana. Zimbabwe, Peru, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Colombia among others are also battling with a similar situation.
However, Ghana’s case should be straightforward to deal with given that it is not linked to any armed conflict like other countries. He explains that a country like DRC’s illegal mining has been intertwined with armed conflict making it a delicate and dicey situation to address.
With Ghana’s fortunate situation where the menace is not directly associated with any conflict, the security consultant believes the situation can and should be easily addressed.
“Unlike the DRC (and Colombia), because Ghana’s illegal mining is less intertwined with armed conflict, it should be potentially more straightforward to address. It could risk violent conflict if it fails to do so, becoming like the Mano River Union countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone in the 1990s,” Col. Festus Aboagye contended.
He is therefore proposing a holistic approach to addressing the situation given the multifaceted nature of the problem.
“Addressing the root causes of galamsey, such as poverty, lack of alternatives, and weak governance is crucial for promoting sustainable practices in the mining sector. A holistic approach incorporating robust community involvement, economic development strategies, and stringent enforcement of laws is essential to create lasting change,” the security consultant insisted.
