Galamsey: Ghana is a failing state; President Mahama must take the bull by the horns — Senyo Hosi

Lead Convener of the One Ghana Movement, Senyo Hosi, has raised alarm over the worsening state of illegal small-scale mining, locally known as galamsey.

He is urging President John Dramani Mahama to take drastic measures to end the menace and protect Ghana’s environment from further destruction.

“Galamsey must be dealt with very ruthlessly because you have armed galamseyers shooting at security officers. We are a failing state, and the president must take this matter, hold the bull by the horns, and not fail us,” he said on Accra-based TV3’s Key Points on Saturday, April 19.

His comments follow a joint operation by the Forestry Commission in the Western Region and the Armed Forces at Abrewa Ninkrane, a notorious galamsey enclave within the Subri Forest Reserve, on Tuesday, April 15.

During the raid, several makeshift camps used by illegal miners—many believed to be foreign nationals from Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—were set ablaze.

Reports indicate that the illegal miners had developed fully functioning hubs, including wooden brothels and makeshift shelters serving as both living quarters and business centres.

Reacting to the development, the social commentator described it as disgraceful and called for a national security investigation.

“It is a national security issue. Are we really safe as a country when foreign nationals are able to create their own communities? This is a very established, totally unmapped settlement. It is very scary. Ghanaians should be extremely concerned about what is going on.

“It is a disgrace that foreigners can infiltrate our country and establish such communities. National security must investigate how this was allowed to happen,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has also arrested several individuals suspected to be involved in galamsey.

In two separate operations, the police apprehended 39 suspects and impounded 17 excavators, a bulldozer, and several vehicles.