Former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has argued that illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey, can only be effectively tackled if state institutions are empowered to lead the fight, rather than politicians being placed at the forefront.
Dr Kokofu said past and present approaches that rely heavily on political leadership have repeatedly failed, stressing that the strategy has proven ineffective over the years.
“It takes the use of state institutions that can help. The current situation and the past situation where politicians are put in the forefront in the fight against galamsey has proven not to be worth it. It is not working. Why are we continuously doing that?” he questioned.
Dr Kokofu referenced the first term of President John Dramani Mahama, describing it as the first major attempt by a sitting president to confront galamsey head-on. However, he said the approach failed because politicians were placed at the center of the campaign.
“President Mahama in his first term was the first president in this country to have taken the battle against galamsey head on, and he failed. Between 2012 and 2014, it couldn’t work because politicians were put in the forefront. We had the inter-ministerial committee on galamsey and we all saw the results,” he stated.
He also reflected on the early years of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration, noting that some initial gains were made in the fight against illegal mining after 2017.
However, he said those successes were not sustained, particularly during the government’s second term.
“If you will recall, the first real battle that was won against galamsey was chalked under the Akufo-Addo government. But going forward, we lost it, particularly in the second term. We couldn’t fight galamsey and it is obvious that it was part of our demise,” he said.
Turning his attention to the current administration, Dr Kokofu noted that President Mahama, upon returning to office, had promised new measures to address galamsey, including the use of technology and artificial intelligence. He also recalled calls by President Mahama, while in opposition, for a state of emergency to be declared as part of the solution.
“He comes into office and it is one year, and he hasn’t been able to do anything and it has even escalated.
“For the first time in the history of this country, the fight against galamsey has consumed lots of lives, including our own precious ministers and other state actors,” he said.
Dr Kokofu argued that the failure to properly resource and empower key regulatory institutions has weakened the fight against galamsey. He identified the EPA, the Water Resources Commission, the Forestry Commission and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority as critical state bodies that should be leading the charge.
“These are four major state institutions that have a whole lot. When you bring them together, resource them fully and ensure there is a coordinated effort, they will be able to lead the fight,” he said.
He concluded by warning against continued political interference in the battle against galamsey, insisting that historical evidence shows it does not work.
“Don’t put politicians there. They will never be able to do it. We have Mahama 1 to show, we have Akufo-Addo to show, and today we have it,” he added.
