Former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has called for a national consensus to secure lasting and sustainable mining practices in Ghana, warning that the country’s continued environmental destruction is a “pity” and a profound national failure.
Speaking as the Chair for the 20th Annual Kronti ne Akwamu Democracy and Governance Public Lecture organised by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Prof. Frimpong-Boateng argued that Ghana’s galamsey crisis persists not because of weak laws, but because of weak enforcement, political interference and complicity at the local level.
“It’s not that we don’t have strong laws. The issue is the enforcement systems and the internal betrayals that prevent these laws from working,” he said.
Delivering a scientifically grounded argument, the former minister lamented Ghana’s narrow focus on gold while ignoring vast economic opportunities in its forests.
Drawing from global research, he cited the example of a South American viper whose venom inspired pharmaceutical breakthroughs that now generate billions of dollars.
“There are so many resources in our forests that can give us more money than gold. When I hear that because of eight or ten billion dollars the environment has to be destroyed, it’s a pity,” he noted.
He underscored the value of biodiversity, stressing that Ghana’s ecosystems hold potential for medicines, industrial products and scientific innovation — opportunities being wiped out by illegal mining.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng expressed deep concern over Ghana’s poor enforcement record against illegal mining. Of the 1,190 arrests made since 2023 only 35 have resulted in successful prosecutions.
“This weak record highlights internal betrayal, a lack of political will, and institutional systems that protect perpetrators,” he said.
He recounted the work of a task force he led in 2017 to monitor galamsey activities along the Pra River.
He praised the team — which included journalists documenting the situation — for its non-partisan approach and accuracy in reporting the scale of environmental degradation.
Galamsey as a Public Health Emergency
This year’s lecture was delivered by award-winning journalist, Erastus Asare Donkor, who painted a grim picture of the environmental and health crisis caused by illegal mining.
He revealed that “Rivers across Ghana are now heavily polluted, with contaminants such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead reaching over 200% above acceptable levels.
“Research from KNUST, UMaT and UENR confirms the contamination of freshwater bodies that once supported fishing and farming.
“Mercury pollution from gold-burning is widespread, with mining households recording levels far above EPA safety limits.”
Erastus Asare Donkor also gave an insight of alarming paediatric health data showing increasing cases of birth defects — including spina bifida, gastroschisis and anorectal malformations — with a majority coming from galamsey-prone communities.
He described illegal mining as “one of the greatest moral and environmental crimes of our time,” accusing duty-bearers of abandoning their responsibilities.
The lecture also examined the catastrophic rate of forest losses. According to statistics, Ghana’s primary forests have collapsed from 6.5 million acres in 1900 to just 1.02 million acres in 2024.
Between 2015 and 2024 alone, the country lost 430,000 acres of forest.
Forest reserves such as Akatamanso, Ofi Shelterbelt, Oda River, Tano Nimiri, Aboaso and Suhenso continue to face renewed galamsey incursions despite security deployments.
Erastus Asare Donkor warned that reclaiming destroyed lands could cost Ghana up to US$32,000 per acre, urging authorities to immediately seize any machinery found in mining zones.
Australia Pledges Support
The Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ms. Owen-Jones, commended CDD-Ghana for decades of promoting accountability and inclusive development.
She praised the focus on the complex galamsey crisis, expressing confidence that this year’s dialogue would lead to impactful policy reforms.
Ms. Owen-Jones reiterated Australia’s readiness to support Ghana, highlighting Australia’s long-standing technical and investment contribution to Ghana’s mining sector.
Environmental and governance initiatives, including the Australian Awards scholarships and the Africa Extractive Media Fellowship.
The “Mining for Peace” project, which promotes dialogue and skills training for youth in five mining regions.
She stressed the security implications of illegal mining and encouraged participants to “ask tough questions and propose bold, meaningful solutions.”
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The post Frimpong-Boateng Calls For National Consensus To Tackle Galamsey Crisis appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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