Chinese Illegal Mining Threatens Ghana’s Environment and Future

Illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, continues to pose a serious threat to Ghana’s environment, public health, and long-term economic stability. Despite repeated government crackdowns and public awareness campaigns, the destructive practice persists in many parts of the country, particularly in the Eastern, Western, and Ashanti regions. Several foreign companies, including Chinese groups, take part in the sector, as shown by Zijin Mining’s acquisition of the Akyem mine.

Even more alarmingly, a global surge in gold prices has triggered a new “gold rush” in Africa’s largest producer and the world’s sixth-largest overall. As prices climbed to record highs in late 2024, illegal mining activities intensified across the country. Rising international demand has encouraged criminal syndicates to expand production, smuggling gold to destinations such as the United Arab Emirates, China, and India. There, the metal is allegedly refined, mixed with legally sourced gold, and reintroduced into global markets, further entrenching the illicit trade.

Rivers that were once clear, such as the Pra, Ankobra, and Offin, have been heavily polluted by toxic chemicals used in gold extraction. Studies in Ghana have detected mercury, arsenic and lead in rivers at levels far above safety standards. These contaminants not only endanger aquatic life but also compromise drinking water supplies for thousands of communities. On the ground, nearly 70 percent of residents living near mining sites depend on surface water sources that are polluted with toxic substances.

At the same time, the spread of “galamsey,” the term for illegal gold mining, continues to worsen environmental degradation. Since 2008, the influx of Chinese nationals has accelerated the phenomenon. They introduced heavy, sophisticated machinery that upended traditional extraction methods. This activity causes severe river pollution and widespread destruction of agricultural land.

The Ghana Water Company has repeatedly warned about the rising cost and difficulty of treating polluted water. According to this organization, by 2017, more than 60 percent of the country’s water bodies were already polluted by mercury and other heavy metals. Even more worrying, in a 2024 report, WaterAid warned that Ghana might have to import water by 2030 in a business-as-usual scenario as drinking water sources shrink.

The human cost of illegal mining is becoming impossible to ignore. Heavy metals used in artisanal gold extraction contaminate not only water but also air, soil, fish and crops, exposing communities to severe health risks, including kidney, liver, and skin cancers, as well as respiratory illnesses, metabolic disorders and congenital defects. In some mining areas, arsenic concentrations in soil exceed recommended limits by more than 4,000 percent. A 2025 report by Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority describes the situation as an urgent public health and environmental emergency.

Beyond water pollution, galamsey is taking a heavy toll on Ghana’s cocoa industry, causing widespread deforestation and the loss of fertile farmland. Cocoa farms and food crops have been lost to unregulated excavation, threatening both local livelihoods and national agricultural output. Ghana’s Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) reported that mining has claimed 2 percent of the country’s total cocoa-growing area. Some farmers allege that galamsey operators either purchase their land under pressure or use intimidation to force them to sell.

In mining areas, deep uncovered pits left behind have caused tragic accidents, claiming lives, including those of children.

While many individuals turn to illegal mining due to unemployment and economic hardship, experts argue that the long-term damage far outweighs the short-term financial gains.

Environmental groups and traditional leaders are calling for stricter enforcement of mining laws, stronger community engagement, and the creation of sustainable job opportunities for the youth.

If urgent and coordinated action is not taken, the cost of galamsey may be irreversible. Ghana’s natural resources are a national heritage and their protection is a responsibility shared by all.

Kwaku OSEI