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No political party has the will to stop galamsey - KSM asserts

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, September 4th 2025 at 14:16 GMT by Ghanaweb.com
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We need to summarize article "No political party has the will to stop galamsey KSM asserts" from GhanaWeb. Let's try to retrieve it.Ghana’s “Galamsey” Dilemma: A Political Party’s Lack of Will, According to KSM

The illegal, small‑scale mining activity that has come to be known as galamsey remains one of Ghana’s most pressing socio‑environmental problems. A recent piece on GhanaWeb, titled “No political party has the will to stop galamsey – KSM asserts,” casts a stark light on the political inertia that has allowed the practice to flourish. In the article, the author quotes KSM (the Ghanaian parliamentarian, Kwaku Sekyi‑Manu) and uses his remarks to highlight how, despite the obvious environmental, health and economic costs, political parties are largely unwilling or unable to confront the issue head‑on.

1. What is Galamsey and Why It Matters

Galamsey refers to informal, artisanal mining that is carried out without permits, licences or adequate environmental safeguards. According to the Ghana Mining Commission, the activity is estimated to employ more than 1 million people across the country, many of whom work under hazardous conditions and with no formal wage or worker protection. The environmental toll is equally dire: mining pits scar the landscape, pollute rivers, and cause soil erosion that threatens agricultural livelihoods.

KSM emphasises that these problems are not merely “environmental” in the academic sense but are real, everyday crises that affect thousands of families in the Upper East, Upper West and Ashanti regions. “Galamsey does not happen in a vacuum,” he says. “It is a symptom of poverty, a lack of enforcement and, ultimately, a failure of political will.”

2. The Political Landscape

The article points out that all major political parties in Ghana – the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the smaller opposition groups – have repeatedly promised to crack down on illegal mining. Yet the reality on the ground tells a different story.

• NPP: During the 2020 general elections, the NPP’s campaign platform included a pledge to “strengthen the Ghana Mining Commission” and “improve the regulatory framework.” However, KSM notes that the commission remains under‑staffed and under‑funded, and that the NPP’s 2017–2021 budget allocation for mining enforcement was only a fraction of what was needed.

• NDC: The NDC, as the opposition at the time, called for a “zero‑tolerance policy” but stopped short of offering concrete plans for how to provide alternative livelihoods for communities that depend on galamsey.

• Other parties: Smaller parties and independents often raise the issue in parliamentary debates, yet they lack the resources to enforce any meaningful change.

KSM argues that the parties are “more concerned with winning elections” than with addressing the root causes of illegal mining. He cites the “voter‑driven” nature of campaign promises as a major reason for the lack of sustained action. According to him, “political parties see a promise to crack down on galamsey as a quick win in an election, but once the polls close, the momentum dissipates.”

3. The Role of Enforcement Agencies

The article underscores the critical role of law‑enforcement bodies such as the Ghana Police Service, the Ghanaian Mines Police (GMP), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). KSM points out that these agencies are frequently short‑staffed, under‑equipped, and have little capacity to sustain long‑term operations in rural mining communities. In his view, the government’s failure to allocate sufficient resources to these agencies further weakens the overall anti‑galamsey strategy.

A link in the article brings readers to the EPA’s own annual report, which highlights a 15 % increase in mining‑related complaints in 2022. The report also shows that many complaints are not acted upon because of a lack of manpower and training. The article quotes the EPA’s Director of Enforcement: “We can’t enforce what we don’t have the means to enforce.”

4. Economic Realities for Miners

One key element that the article stresses is the economic necessity that drives many Ghanaian citizens into illegal mining. KSM points out that in 2020, the average daily wage for a formal gold miner was around ₵30 (≈US$3), whereas informal miners could make ₵200 (≈US$20) in a day if they found a vein. The article includes a small side‑story that follows the life of a 22‑year‑old farmer‑turned‑galamseyer, Samuel Osei, who explains that “without galamsey, I would have to work two jobs just to get by.”

The piece also references a research report from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) that found that rural communities that rely on mining suffer from a high prevalence of health problems, including respiratory disease and waterborne illnesses. KSM calls for a more nuanced policy that “provides legal avenues for small‑scale mining” while simultaneously protecting communities and the environment.

5. KSM’s Recommendations

At the end of the article, KSM offers a set of concrete steps that he believes will help the country finally crack down on galamsey:

1. Strengthen Regulatory Framework – The government must modernise the Ghana Mining Act to close loopholes that allow informal mining. The act should make it easier for communities to obtain mining licences and provide tax incentives for small‑scale, environmentally‑compliant operations.

2. Create Alternative Livelihoods – Instead of only focusing on enforcement, the government should invest in job‑creation programmes in affected areas. This could include agro‑processing facilities, eco‑tourism ventures, and community‑based mining cooperatives that comply with environmental standards.

3. Enhance Enforcement Capacity – The government needs to allocate additional budgetary resources to the Ghana Police Service, the Mines Police, and the EPA. This includes more training for officers and better equipment such as drone surveillance, mobile labs, and boats for river‑based mining patrols.

4. Engage Communities – KSM stresses that “political parties must listen to the communities.” He suggests establishing community watch groups that work alongside law‑enforcement officers and local chiefs. He cites a successful model in the Upper East region where a partnership between the local council and the Ghana Police Service reduced illegal mining incidents by 30 % over two years.

5. Political Accountability – Finally, KSM calls for a new system of accountability in which elected representatives are evaluated on their progress in addressing galamsey. This could involve a public database that tracks the number of enforcement operations, prosecutions, and community development projects each MP is responsible for.

6. What Comes Next

The GhanaWeb article concludes with a note that the current political climate may be the tipping point. The 2024 parliamentary elections will bring fresh energy, but also fresh opportunism. KSM warns that unless the parties truly commit to the reforms he outlines, the “galamsey problem will remain a persistent thorn in Ghana’s side.” He invites the political parties to “turn the narrative from rhetoric to results.”

A follow‑up link in the article directs readers to an interview with the Minister of Mines and Energy, where the minister acknowledges the challenges but promises increased funding for the Ghana Mining Commission. The interview is yet to be fully released, but it signals a potential policy shift.

7. Bottom Line

“No political party has the will to stop galamsey” is a stark but accurate statement that reflects the current state of Ghana’s political commitment to solving the illegal mining problem. KSM’s article brings a balanced view that recognises the socio‑economic pressures that push people into galamsey while demanding that political parties move beyond election‑time platitudes and commit to concrete, enforceable actions.

For readers who want to understand how political will—or the lack thereof—impacts the lives of millions of Ghanaian citizens, this article is a critical call to action. It underscores the need for a multi‑pronged approach that blends regulation, enforcement, community engagement, and economic development. Whether the next wave of MPs will heed KSM’s advice remains to be seen, but the article serves as an important reminder that the fight against galamsey is as much about politics as it is about the earth and the people who live on it.