The President of the Responsible Small-Scale Miners Association of Ghana, Philip Bawa, has voiced strong criticism against law enforcement agencies, accusing them of widespread corruption that hampers the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
His comments come as the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) introduce a new initiative aimed at partnering with small-scale miners to tackle the escalating galamsey crisis.
This collaboration seeks to foster responsible mining practices while bolstering efforts against illegal operations that have severely impacted the environment across the nation.
“Law enforcement agencies are too corrupt to help fight galamsey. Every checkpoint you encounter is a potential source of bribery,” he stated.
However, during an appearance on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Bawa expressed concern that rampant corruption within law enforcement undermines these initiatives.
He also advocated for a more organized approach to addressing the issue.
“The Minerals Commission, which is responsible for enforcing mining laws, has failed to do so due to a lack of human resources and logistics. The Commission only has 9 offices across the entire country, with just one officer, one assistant, and one pickup truck covering vast mining districts. In addition, many of the roads in these areas are in poor condition. Therefore, there is a need for more personnel and resources to enforce regulations effectively,” he said.