In a sad twist, it is emerging that the fight against illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, is not just about saving rivers and forests; it’s now also about safeguarding a critical sector of the country: the energy sector.
It is now also about fighting to keep Ghana’s lights on and protecting the backbone of its industrial future. This is according to a new analysis by policy think tank IMANI Africa.
In its latest Criticality Analysis, IMANI warns that the ongoing destruction from galamsey is placing vital energy infrastructure at serious risk, particularly the gas pipelines that feed Ghana’s thermal power plants.
These plants generate a large share of the country’s electricity and are central to achieving the national goal of reliable and affordable power for homes, businesses, and industries.
The report, cited by The High Street Journal, re-echoed the warnings from energy companies such as Genser Energy and the Ghana National Gas Company about the vulnerability of gas pipelines to damage from illegal mining activities.
According to these key energy sector players, if a pipeline is compromised, whether through physical damage, land destabilisation, or contamination, the consequences could be catastrophic.
From fatal fire outbreaks, blackouts, and production shutdowns, which can lead to higher electricity costs, these are just a few of the possible impacts the country is gradually nearing if nothing drastic is done.
These risks, IMANI notes, expose a bigger fight that Ghana’s struggle with galamsey is not only an environmental disaster but a direct threat to its economic security and industrial ambitions. Without a steady supply of power, factories can’t run, businesses falter, and investment confidence erodes.
“The ongoing risks to gas pipelines underline the precariousness of Ghana’s energy future. These pipelines power critical thermal plants, which are central to Ghana’s goal of reliable, affordable electricity,” the analysis indicated.
IMANI is calling for an integrated and sustained action that balances law enforcement with community engagement, livelihood support, and long-term planning. For IMANI, the livelihoods of those involved in illegal mining must be addressed alongside the protection of infrastructure that millions of Ghanaians rely on daily.
One positive development, the think tank notes, is the launch of the rCOMSDEP (Resource Community Sustainable Development Programme), an initiative aimed at reining in illegal mining’s damage.
While promising, IMANI stresses that success will depend on whether such programmes are implemented consistently and backed by strong political will.
“The fight against galamsey is thus about more than environmental protection or law enforcement; it is about safeguarding the foundation of Ghana’s industrialisation and economic progress,” IMANI remarked.
It further noted, “The warnings from Genser Energy and Ghana Gas are urgent calls for integrated, sustained action that respects both people’s livelihoods and the nation’s development goals. rCOMSDEP’s launch is a positive step toward reining in illegal mining’s damage.”
