By Francis William Kwame Nyarko Appiah
Galamsey is bleeding this country dry. Day after day, we watch as illegal miners rip through our forests, pollute our rivers, and leave behind gaping craters where fertile farmlands once thrived. And yet, the nation still treats this menace like an inconvenience rather than the full-blown crisis it truly is.
Let’s be blunt: no serious country would allow galamsey to flourish the way Ghana has. Agriculture remains the backbone of our economy. It employs the majority of our people, feeds our homes, and provides raw materials for industries. Yet, galamsey is steadily destroying this very foundation. What sense does it make for investors (local or foreign) to commit millions of cedis into large-scale farming, only for their investments to be swallowed by the reckless activities of illegal miners?
Imagine acquiring over 1,000 hectares of land to grow maize, only to discover that miners have contaminated your water source, dug pits through your fields, and rendered the soil barren. That is not just a lost harvest; it is a lost investment, a lost livelihood, and a lost opportunity for national development.
The ripple effect is devastating. With low yields caused by galamsey, our agro-industries will face raw material shortages. Factories that process maize, cassava, cocoa, or rice will either collapse or relocate. And when industries collapse, jobs vanish. When jobs vanish, poverty rises. The cycle is vicious and it all begins with galamsey.
Beyond economics, the damage to Ghana’s reputation is equally alarming. Foreign investors are watching. They see a country rich in natural resources but unwilling or unable to protect its environment and its future. Why would any serious investor put money in such a system? Galamsey, if not decisively dealt with, will continue to scare away investment, leaving Ghana stuck in a cycle of poverty and underdevelopment.
This is why the cries to end galamsey must be taken seriously seriously enough to move beyond empty rhetoric and photo-op crackdowns. We need bold action: strict enforcement of laws, prosecution of the powerful figures who fuel the trade, and viable alternatives for the young people drawn into illegal mining.
Galamsey is not just an environmental problem; it is an existential threat to Ghana’s agriculture, agribusiness, and economic stability. We cannot claim to love this country while watching silently as it is stripped bare. Ending galamsey is not optional it is a matter of national survival.
Francis William Kwame Nyarko Appiah, Agribusiness Specialist and Agricultural extension professional.
