By Alex Ababio ,Investigative Journalist
Ghana’s Ashanti Region is experiencing a particularly worrisome alliance between illegal miners, colloquially known as galamsey operators, and powerful political figures, which is inflicting serious environmental devastation and economic loss.
This investigation explores the corruption that undermines the fight against illegal mining.
Ashanti Region’s Galamsey Surge
The Ashanti Region, endowed with gold deposits, has become a hotspot for galamsey activities. It is towns like Obuasi, Manso Nkwanta and Mankranso that feel it the most. In Obuasi, for example, thousands of people are illegally involved in mining activities, causing great damage to the environment.
According to Dr. Devine Odame Appiah, an environmental scientist at KNUST, “The uncontrolled mining activities have led to deforestation and soil erosion, severely impacting local ecosystems.
Political Entanglements
While the government has taken steps against galamsey, enforcement is uneven. It is still alleged that some politicians give protection to illegal miners in exchange for payments. One such person is Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka “Chairman Wontumi,” the ex-while ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman.
This came after his business, owned by his son, Akonta Mining Limited, was caught mining illegally in the Apamprama Forest Reserve without securing the required permits.
Likewise, Joseph Albert Quarm, also a former Member of Parliament for the Manso Nkwanta constituency has allegedly been linked to illegal mining.
According to reports, Quarm was involved in the illegal sale of mining concessions and also used his political clout to allow galamsey activities.
Speaking to the blurring lines between politics and lawlessness, Dr. Ama Owusu, a political analyst notes, “Because political figures are involved in galamsey, it undermines the rule of law and makes it difficult to enforce it.”
Voices from the Ground
Environmental and economic devastation from galamsey concerns residents of impacted communities. The Mankran River, for example, in the Mankranso community in the Ashanti Region had been badly polluted with the residents depending mostly on ground water and other sources for daily use because of illegal mining activities.
Adwoa Felicia, a local farmer, bemoans: “Food has now gone high in this area because food production has decreased drastically as a result of the galamsey. Some of us are finding life to be intolerable.”
Another resident, Seidu Adam, says “We appeal to the traditional authorities as custodians of the land to be firm in dealing with illegal mining. The devastation is becoming more horrifying, and we must not politicize this struggle.”
Global environmental and economic costs
Galamsey has though proved disastrous for the environment in the Ashanti Region. Rivers are contaminated with mercury and other toxic chemicals, making sources of water unsafe for consumption and agriculture.
Farmlands — especially cocoa plantations — are being destroyed, endangering Ghana’s cocoa industry. The economic costs are huge, the state estimates it loses about $2 billion a year in unpaid taxes as a result of such crime against the state.
“All that illegal mining is costing government revenue but it also frustrates development projects that can help these communities,” said Dr. Kwame Boateng, an economist.
Challenges in Enforcement
Crackdowns on illegal mining have had limited success. Security forces conduct operations that typically lead to clashes. In January 2025 soldiers killed at least seven illegal miners at the Obuasi gold mining site operated by AngloGold Ashanti, drawing attention to the friction between enforcement agencies and galamsey operators.
“The confrontations between these security forces and the illegal miners most of the time get escalated due to the deep-seated mistrust of each other and the high stakes involved in galamsey activities,” Dr. Yaw Mensah, a criminologist, explains.
Calls for Reform
People like Martin and local civil society organizations are calling for bolder moves against galamsey and their enablers. Concern has been expressed about some political figures allegedly sponsoring illegal mining operations and the need for more accountability and transparency, by the National Association of Small Scale Miners.
As environmental activist Dr. Akosua Frempong tells us, “We need a collective effort to tackle this menace. To protect our environment the government, traditional leaders and us community members must work together.”
The Path Forward
A multi-pronged approach to tackle the galamsey menace in the Ashanti Region Experts, therefore, call for decentralisation of licensing and execution of mining activities to involve, in addition to other oversight bodies, municipal and district assemblies, which together with traditional chiefs understand the local context by virtue of their work. Such a system would promote transparency and accountability and reduce the likelihood of corruption.
“Decentralizing oversight and enabling local authorities and traditional leaders with greater authority over inspections and enforcement of mining practices can prove more effective,” Dr. Nana Kofi Agyeman, a governance expert, argues.
Also, re-enforcing the legal architecture and its robust enforcement system are key. That also means holding accountable not just miners, but also political figures who cover for them.
This forms a huge barrier against the fight against galamsey_ the entrenchment between illegal miners and political actors – in Ghana’s Ashanti Region.
It is essential to break this cycle of corruption to preserve the country’s natural legacy, protect the livelihoods of its people, and use their mineral wealth to promote sustainable development.
In the words of Dr. Ama Owusu, “Today’s efforts to solve the galamsey crisis will be what determines the future of our environment and economy.”