Amid the renewed effort of the government of President John Dramani Mahama to clamp down on the menace of illegal mining (galamsey), former Minister and Member of Parliament, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, believes the country must look beyond just the immediate crackdowns with the state security apparatus.
While the forceful crackdown is important, Dr. Kwabena Donkor believes the state must focus on a more sustainable, people-centered solution.
He believes the long-term solution is not just in clampdowns but a deliberate and purposeful transitioning of illegal miners into formal, legal operations.
In an exclusive interview with The High Street Journal, the former MP for Pru East argued that this call is not only timely but also deeply practical, recognizing the economic desperation driving thousands into unregulated mining and the urgent need to protect Ghana’s environment and future.
The Gold Price Surge: An Opportunity with a Dark Shadow
Gold has always been a major export of Ghana for over a century. This means the country’s economy is largely affected by the highs and lows of gold prices on the international market. In recent years, that pull has grown stronger with the surge in global gold prices.
From as low as $2000 per ounce, the precious metal has rallied in recent months to hit an all-time high at $4000 per ounce. This gold price rally, Dr. Donkor observes, has come with both a blessing and a challenge, making the situation double-edged.
He points out that while the rise in global gold prices presents a huge opportunity for revenue and job creation, it has also arguably fueled a boom in illegal mining. For many young Ghanaians, gold is seen as a way out of poverty, a shortcut to a better life.
“The government of President Mahama inherited an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity being that mining has been on the lips of Ghanaians for a while, and with the upsurge in global gold prices, it presents an opportunity. However, it also inherited a threat, a threat to our survival, an ecological threat because of the nature of mining, especially illegal mining in Ghana,” he noted.
The rise in unregulated mining has not only eroded landscapes but also fiscal discipline. Uncontrolled extraction means lost taxes, smuggled gold, and weakened governance. Yet, amid the chaos, Dr. Donkor insists that Ghana still has a chance to turn the tide, if it can balance firm enforcement with smart transition.
Government’s Efforts: Fighting the Menace, But at a Cost
In the early months of President Mahama’s administration, the government launched decisive measures to contain illegal mining. Security operations have been rolled out, task forces have been deployed, and regional committees have been activated to reclaim degraded lands and sanitize river bodies.
Dr. Donkor acknowledges these actions as a show of political will on the side of the government, but adds that it is too early to assess the success or otherwise of the effort. For him, with the actions taken so far, he is convinced that the government cannot be accused of lack of effort in fighting the menace.
“If you look at President Mahama’s first 9 months, some infrastructure has been put in place to contain, if not eliminate, illegal mining. It is too early, in my opinion, to say whether the efforts have been successful or not,” he remarked.
Dr. Donkor further continued, “What I can say is that the government cannot be accused of a lack of effort. Efforts, resources have been put into fighting illegal mining.”
According to Dr. Donkor, the use of state security to stem the tide is just one aspect of the fight, which he believes must be holistic.
“I sincerely believe fighting illegal mining is one leg of it. Using security forces, using the apparatus of states, the cohesive apparatus of states to fight mining is one leg, and a needed leg at that,” he noted.
Transitioning to Legal Mining: The Long-Term Solution
To Dr. Donkor, fighting galamsey cannot be reduced to just a battle of force. It must be a journey of reform, inclusion, and empowerment. He argues that the long-term solution lies in helping small-scale miners operate within the law, through education, licensing, technical support, and access to finance.
The former Minister acknowledges that small-scale mining has become the way of life and source of livelihoods for many Ghanaians in mining enclaves.
He therefore sees the long-term solution to be transitioning these people into legal and sustainable mining.
Transitioning illegal miners into legal, regulated operations, he believes, will not only protect the environment but also sustain livelihoods and bring much-needed order to the sector. It will take time, resources, and political commitment, but it remains the only path toward lasting change.
“Whether we like it or not, a large number of Ghanians are involved in illegal mining. To the extent that the distinction between legal, small-scale mining and illegal mining has become blurred,” he recounted.
He continued, “That is where transitioning illegal mining to legal mining is important. That is the second leg that I’m emphasising. How do we transition this? It’s going to need, again, education. It’s going to need resources. It’s going to need purposeful action.”
The Bottomline
Dr. Donkor’s comments suggest that behind the statistics of deforestation and polluted rivers are real people. These are young men and women trying to survive in an economy that often gives them few options.
He therefore believes that the government must not put all its eggs in one basket. He maintains that yes, the state must clamp down on illegality, but it must also build the pathways for transformation.
In the end, Ghana’s fight against galamsey must evolve from a short-term crackdown to a long-term national mission that turns chaos into a dignified opportunity.
