Security analyst Prof. Kwesi Aning has strongly criticized officials who support illegal mining activities, known as galamsey, despite the significant damage they inflict on Ghana’s environment.
During an interview on Channel One News with Eno Safo on Thursday, October 10, Prof. Aning emphasized that galamsey offers no substantial economic advantages to the country.
Instead, he noted that the financial gains are limited to a small group of individuals, while the nation bears the long-term repercussions of environmental degradation.
He pointed out the severe pollution affecting water bodies and forests as a direct result of illegal mining, underscoring how these activities jeopardize the country’s ecological integrity.
Prof. Aning urged authorities to take a decisive stance against galamsey and stop rationalizing its perceived benefits for a select few. He argued that such justifications overlook the enduring damage to Ghana’s natural resources and the potential for future economic development.
His remarks come amid rising concerns about the detrimental effects of galamsey on water bodies, agricultural land, and local communities, with many advocates calling for stronger government intervention.
“There seems to be a lack of willingness and preparedness from lawmakers, implementers, and oversight bodies to understand and acknowledge the converging interests that threaten not only the environment but also the very existence of the Republic of Ghana.
This denial from authorities, claiming that galamsey creates jobs and income, is misguided. When we weigh the problems caused by galamsey against any economic benefits it may provide, it becomes clear that the balance does not favor Ghana,” he stated.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the Ghanaian military has initiated an intensified operation to combat illegal mining. This effort has already led to the destruction of significant mining equipment on its first day.
Under the government’s “Operation Halt” initiative, soldiers successfully dismantled 18 chanfans, 10 industrial water pumping machines, and one excavator at various illegal mining sites throughout Ghana.
This military operation, which began early Thursday morning, focuses on illegal mining activities, particularly in water bodies and protected areas that have suffered extensive environmental damage due to galamsey operations.
