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Participants at a workshop organised by the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre have identified illegal mining as the most significant emerging threat to human and national security in Ghana.
The forum, which brought together stakeholders from security agencies, academia, traditional authorities, the media, and other state institutions, warned that illegal mining, commonly known as ‘galamsey’, has evolved into a complex ecosystem linked to smuggling, human trafficking, drug abuse, violent extremism, and environmental destruction. The dialogue was supported by the Embassy of Spain in Ghana.
Participants said the scale of the crisis could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s future, drawing comparisons with conflict-driven narratives depicted in films such as Black Diamond and Hotel Rwanda.
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Presenting findings from a two-week study, senior researcher at KAIPTC, Ernest Ansah Lartey, said illegal mining now poses both human security and public health risks.
“One, that is evolving into a safety and security ecosystem,” he said, noting that the sector has become highly organised and mechanised, involving networks of financiers, equipment suppliers and actors within political and economic structures.
He argued that enforcement efforts should focus on financiers and enablers rather than only targeting low-level operators.
The research highlighted severe environmental damage to major water bodies, including the Ankobra River, Bonsa River and Pra River, as well as widespread destruction of farmlands and abandoned pits along roadsides.
It also pointed to the involvement of foreign actors in the supply chain, particularly in the provision and maintenance of mining equipment. In some areas, a single mining site was found to host more than 1,200 people daily, underlining the scale of livelihoods tied to the activity.
Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson said tackling illegal mining requires viable economic alternatives for those involved.
“How can you easily convince someone who gets 1,500 cedis a day to stop the trade? There should be real social interventions and sustainable approaches,” he said.
He added that stronger punitive measures should be considered, including the confiscation of lands from chiefs who allow illegal mining in their jurisdictions.
Nelson revealed that 11 out of 14 districts in the Western Region have been affected and announced plans to establish three operational bases in Ellembelle, Amenfi East and Ahanta West to support monitoring efforts.
Participants also called for greater use of technology to identify and track illegal mining hotspots, stressing that a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach is needed to address what they described as a growing national security crisis.
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