The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has initiated a comprehensive investigation into suspected corruption connected to illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
This action follows increasing concerns about the extensive environmental destruction caused by unchecked mining, particularly the pollution of Ghana’s water bodies.
Civil society groups, including organized labor, have called on the government to declare a state of emergency in areas most affected by illegal mining, aiming to address the long-term environmental, social, and economic consequences of galamsey.
Speaking at a conference in Accra to review Ghana’s Beneficial Ownership regime, Samuel Appiah Darko, Director of Research and Communication at the OSP, outlined the investigation’s scope.
He revealed that the probe would not only target violations of mining laws but would also dig deeper into the corruption that has allowed illegal mining to thrive.
Darko stressed that the investigation would focus on identifying influential individuals and groups who have facilitated or benefited from illegal mining operations.
He reaffirmed the OSP’s dedication to addressing both legal violations and the systemic corruption within the sector.
“We are doing our investigation into illegal mining separately from the semplicità of somebody has mined without a licence…Those are for police to be dealing with.
“Ours take a bit of time because we need to be going round to be sure that money exchanged hands before the person going into the field,” he stated.
