The menace of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has evolved into a full-blown national crisis—and the Western North Region is now among the worst affected. What was once a lush, productive landscape known for its cocoa farms, timber reserves, and biodiversity is now being reduced to polluted rivers, scarred earth, and collapsing communities.
From Ewiakyiren to Chirano, Asawinso to Bibiani, Akontombra to Sefwi-Wiawso, and from Enchi to Aowin, disturbing reports of illegal mining activities continue to emerge. These are often accompanied by shocking images of degraded farmlands, contaminated water bodies, and displaced residents. The extent of environmental destruction in the region is not only alarming—it is unacceptable.
What is even more troubling is that this devastation is happening under the watch of those entrusted with protecting the land—local authorities, security agencies, and political leaders. In many cases, there are growing allegations of complicity, whether through passive inaction or quiet collaboration. Some traditional leaders have also been accused of granting access to lands for short-term financial benefits at the cost of long-term ecological ruin.
It must be clearly stated: galamsey is not merely an environmental issue. It poses a serious threat to national development and the very survival of affected communities. It compromises food security, contaminates drinking water, disrupts education, endangers public health, and undermines economic stability. For a region like Western North—already battling developmental neglect—the impact is catastrophic.
The central government must now move beyond public pronouncements and begin to deliver visible, measurable action. The deployment of security personnel to mining zones must be accompanied by strict monitoring and accountability. The widespread perception that some military or police officers are protecting illegal miners must be addressed with urgency and transparency.
We call on agencies such as the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to scale up enforcement in the region. Both local and foreign nationals engaging in illegal mining must be arrested and prosecuted swiftly and decisively. The law must be seen to work, regardless of one’s nationality or political connections.
However, enforcement alone is not enough. The root causes must be tackled. Many of the youth who engage in illegal mining do so out of economic desperation. Government must therefore invest in sustainable livelihood alternatives—such as vocational training, agribusiness development, and regulated, community-led small-scale mining. These solutions must be long-term, inclusive, and properly resourced.
Traditional leaders must rise to their responsibility. As custodians of the land, they must lead the charge in protecting their communities from environmental exploitation. Chiefs who facilitate or ignore illegal mining betray their ancestors, their people, and future generations.
The media and civil society also have a critical role to play. Galamsey thrives in silence and darkness. Persistent advocacy, investigative reporting, and civic education can help keep pressure on duty-bearers and ensure continued public engagement on the issue.
The Western North Region must not be allowed to become another casualty of greed, neglect, and failed governance. This is a wake-up call to all stakeholders—government, local authorities, traditional rulers, the private sector, and the international community. Ghana cannot afford to lose yet another region to the destructive grip of galamsey.
