Food and Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong, has stated that government efforts alone will not be enough to end illegal mining, known as “galamsey,” without the active involvement of local communities.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition, the Minister stressed the need for a national dialogue that brings together all sectors of society to tackle the crisis effectively.
Mr Acheampong acknowledged that while the government has implemented various interventions, including deploying security forces, the challenge of illegal mining goes beyond the reach of military or police actions.
“If we spread 34,000 soldiers across the country, they won’t even be able to stop galamsey in the Ashanti region alone. We need communal effort, not just central government enforcement,” he stated.
He emphasized that although security personnel can enforce laws in the short term, illegal miners often return once they leave. This, he argued, is why a community-driven approach is essential to solving the problem. Mr Acheampong highlighted the crucial role of community members in protecting their own lands and resources.
“You need a mindset change by the people in the community. When you fight the people who are destroying your land and polluting your waters, security personnel can back you up. But if you wait for central government to bring in soldiers or police, they don’t come and stay there,” he explained.
The Minister also made it clear that addressing galamsey is not solely the responsibility of district authorities or political appointees. He pointed out that most people involved in local governance structures come from the same communities affected by illegal mining and should play a more active role in stopping it.
“Are you saying the DCE is the only one looking on for all this to happen? Galamsey is happening in communities, not in the DCE’s house,” he said.
Mr Acheampong called for a nationwide conversation on the issue, emphasizing that the fight against galamsey must extend beyond the capital and directly engage the affected communities.
“We need a national dialogue on this matter. We need to agree on the role of the community, civil society, security forces, political parties, and the media. Only then can we swing into action.”
He warned that without the involvement of local communities, the galamsey crisis would only worsen, threatening Ghana’s food security, water supply, and environment.
“What will a state of emergency do if you don’t have the community rising up to stop galamsey?” he asked, urging Ghanaians to take ownership of their environments and play an active role in the fight against illegal mining.