Every few months, the Ghanaian public is assured of a tough, no-nonsense crackdown on illegal gold mining, locally known as galamsey. Headlines scream victory as machines are seized and arrests are made. Yet, one inconvenient truth haunts these promises: galamsey thrives deeper, more lucrative, and more destructive than ever before — largely under the shadow of China’s influence and the deep, rotting roots of political compromise that began as far back as the Rawlings era.
Browsing: illegal mining impacts
Illegal gold mining has shattered ecosystems across Ghana. According to a 2023 report from Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, over 60% of the country’s major river bodies — including the Ankobra, Pra, and Birim — have suffered contamination due to galamsey-related chemicals such as mercury and cyanide.