Senyo Hosi, Convenor of the One Ghana Movement, has expressed concerns that Ghana has "missed the boat" in its fight against illegal small-scale mining, known as galamsey. According to Hosi, the country's opportunity to decisively tackle the menace came during the first term of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, when the government adopted measures to significantly restrict small-scale mining. Hosi's comments were made in an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV's The Point of View on Wednesday, September 30.
Hosi stated that the government subsequently scaled back its approach due to political considerations, leaving the country with a more difficult challenge. He maintained that the former president's initial approach significantly affected small-scale mining but said political considerations eventually influenced the implementation of the policy. This, according to Hosi, has led to the current situation where Ghana is "practically" at a point of no return in addressing the galamsey issue.
The One Ghana Movement convenor argued that galamsey had become politically tolerated because of the consequences associated with confronting it, particularly in communities where illegal mining provides livelihoods. He said concerns over the 2020 general election contributed to the scaling back of the Akufo-Addo administration's initial approach. Hosi noted that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) was taking advantage of the government's fight against galamsey.
Hosi further pointed out that political competition had continued to undermine efforts to tackle galamsey, arguing that opposition parties could use measures against illegal mining to their political advantage. He also highlighted the economic dependence of mining communities on illegal mining, particularly amid youth unemployment and underemployment. According to Hosi, this has made it challenging for the government to take decisive action against galamsey.
The galamsey issue has been a persistent challenge for Ghana, with the government struggling to balance the need to protect the environment and the livelihoods of those involved in small-scale mining. Hosi's comments suggest that the government's efforts to address the issue have been hindered by political considerations, which have allowed the problem to persist. The issue has significant implications for Ghana's environment, economy, and social stability.
The Akufo-Addo administration's initial approach to addressing galamsey was seen as a significant step towards tackling the issue. However, the scaling back of this approach has been widely criticized, with many arguing that it has allowed the problem to worsen. Hosi's comments add to the growing concerns about the government's ability to effectively address the galamsey issue and the need for a more sustainable policy approach.
The issue of galamsey is likely to continue to be a major challenge for Ghana's government, with significant implications for the country's development and stability. As the government continues to grapple with the issue, it remains to be seen whether it will be able to adopt a more effective approach to addressing galamsey and mitigating its impacts on the environment, economy, and society.
Key points
- Ghana's government missed its chance to effectively tackle galamsey during President Akufo-Addo's first term due to political considerations.
