A Nation That Has Chosen Extinction Over Survival: An Uncertain Future of Mining Policy in Ghana

Abstract
Irresponsible Mining is observed to be the bane of Ghana's Development Journey over the last two decades. It is unbelievable that state authorities recklessly over look the pollution of the nations fresh water resources and destruction of forests not witnessed in the history of any organized society due to political expediency. Whiles irresponsible mining is threating the existence of the entire nation, public pressure has compelled the political parties to proffer some solutions. Evaluation of the manifesto pledges and current realities of government fiscal constraints suggests an uncertain future of Ghana's public policy on mining. Promising future technology disruptions in hydrocarbons emanating from the ever-growing demand for clean energy suggest a misplaced priority of Ghana's reliance on the oil trade.

Introduction
Irresponsible mining is a broader term use to describe both illegal miners and licensed miners who engaged directly or provide funding in the use of unapproved mining practices that directly or indirectly pollutes fresh water bodies and or destroy forest resources. The actions of the two categories of miners are criminal.

When the Last Tree Is Cut Down, the Last Fish Eaten, and the Last Stream Poisoned, You Will Realize That You Cannot Eat Money. - A Native American saying passed on by Alanis Obomsawin.

Whiles the river Pra, Tano, Offin, Odo, and Ankobra among others could be tapped for irrigation of garlic, onion, ginger, pepper and other cash crops, excessive materialistic young people think the only way to survive is engaging in 'irresponsible mining'. With a water pumping generator, land, seeds and personal labour, one can start say, an onion farm enterprise and start receiving cash within few weeks. Relatively, the owner of the onion farm enterprise will live longer due to non-exposer to lethal chemicals, having a reliable regular source of income and beneficial to society whiles 'irresponsible mining' reduces the lifespan of the perpetrator's, unreliable income and also threatens the existence of an entire nation.

Humanity's Interdependence
Humanity's interdependence on nature is manifested to the extent that Northern Ghana markets are flooded with products such as cassava, cocoyam, palm oil, and or fish from Southern Ghana approximately every 12 hours after production. The same applies to products ranging from livestock and cereals produced from Northern Ghana and flooded in the markets of Southern Ghana. It has been scientifically proven that tubers absorb metals than non-tuber crops. Therefore, if the food chain in Ghana is contaminated with lethal chemicals such as lead, then no one is safe in the country.

This is why those who make an unscrupulous argument that 'irresponsible mining' (galamsey), is a peculiar problem of Southern Ghana, leaves much to be desired. Just few months to the 2024 general elections, a politician in the past NPP government sat on JoyNews TV and argued that illegal mining (galamsey) is a Southern Ghana problem and by implication why should citizens from Northern Ghana be concerned. Another NPP high profile personality also said that the turbidity levels of Ghana's water bodies were worse in the previous government regime. Unbelievably, these few statements are just a tip of the iceberg.

Agenda Setters and Materialism
Majority of the voter population do not understand the aim of agenda setters. Basically, agenda setters are policy formulators or influencers. For instance, no president of Ghana will select members of a 'constitutional review committee' whose political ideologies differ from his political party. The final say of such committees' is what matters at the end of the day. So, it will be very difficult to establish if the general public are really interested in having 275 MPs or less. Do the general public really approve of the hybrid system of government? Do the general public really approve of the excessive government spending on the legislature? Do the general public really approve of external debt financing? These and many other issues are decided by the agenda setters.

Using Persson, T., & Tabellini, G. (2002) political economics theory, the aim of agenda setters in Ghana revolves on three factors namely;

1. Political candidates only care about winning elections.
2. Political candidates maximize their expected vote share.
3. Political candidates are subject to time constraint.

All other things being equal, political parties agenda setters are actually interested in the control of resources within the possible available period to achieve two factors namely, personal interest and political party interest which may not necessarily align with the national interest.

A Review of Small-scale Mining Policy in Ghana

Despite several calls by CSOs to the past NPP government to halt irresponsible mining (including illegal mining) in the country, more suspicious mining licenses were even issued to 'get rich overnight people' who (politically exposed persons) unleashed further destruction to water bodies and forest resources of Ghana. Not even the threat from organized labour made the previous government badge.

Significantly, some aspects of the NDC manifesto towards addressing irresponsible mining is commendable and reassuring. For instance, the proposed 'Blue Water Project' and 'Tree for Life Initiative' which aim to revive polluted water bodies and destroyed forest and land resources is highly commendable if the NDC government is able to implement them successfully. Guided by the past failures to implement manifesto promises, one must be cautious about such pronouncements.

Whiles a review of the existing Minerals and Mining Act and a revocation of the L.I. that allowed mining in forests reserves is a very good action if executed by the NDC government, the intent and purposes of other measures such as freeing jailed miners and formation of a Gold Board are unclear. This is because politicians are very fast in introducing existing things through the back door.

Significantly, if the NDC party genuinely wants to wage a ruthless war against illegal mining (galemsay), then, why should it be interested in freeing jailed miners. Also, the establishment of a Gold Board seems to re-introduce 'galemsay' in a different form because the young people lack the technical know-how of sustainable mining. Why should mining be the only option of a small fraction of the youth when the nation is using foreign currency to import garlic, onions, tomatoes etc? The market need for these products alone makes the action of irresponsible miners as greedy, callous and inhumane.

Challenges of Funding Public Projects
Obviously, the government of Ghana investment to GDP ratio has steadily decreased from 40 percent of GDP in 2000 to less than 10 percent in 2023 (Ibrahim, S. M. 2024). The Ghana government fiscal constraint crisis is manifested in its struggles and delays in fulfilling its financial obligations such as payment of feeding grants to SHSs, workers social security payments and so on. Since the NDC government has promised the abolishing of some taxes to give respite to businesses and citizens, how will the Blue Water and Tree for Life proposed projects be financed in order to address the mess of the irresponsible mining. Is the government seeking to use more external or internal debt financing? These and many unanswered questions raise serious public concerns.

The Future of Irresponsible Mining
Ideally, the state of fresh water bodies and forests in Ghana demands a state of emergency and immediate halt to irresponsible mining (including galamsey). Will the current NDC regime adhere to its promises or betray the public once again? Two factors can only succeed in halting irresponsible mining; the political will to do so and consistency of the media in the fight.

Interestingly, the rate at which journalists are becoming interested in active politics is on the ascendency. The current NDC government has given more political appointments to journalists than previous government. Are many journalists giving up the watch-dog role over personal economics issues? The danger is that if those who are to team up with anti-corruption agencies to hold governments accountable are now eying political appointments, then, we may loose even the fight against irresponsible mining.

Global trends in clean energy technologies such as hydrology engines, efficient and effective electric cars and radio waves propelled engines are promising to disrupt the hydrocarbons industry. Twenty years ago, no one imagined a driverless automobiles, electric cars and flying cars but these are all a reality today. If agriculture which employs more than 60 percent of the workforce and the mainstay of the economy is overlooked or abounded because of oil discovery, then, there is no future for Ghana. It is very sad that a few extremely greedy irresponsible miners have taken the whole nation to ransom.

The spirits of Ghana are weeping for a savior.

Sumaila Mohammed Ibrahim, CMBA Finance
Correspondence: [email protected]