Only gold blacklisting will force action on galamsey — Akim Swedru MP
The Member of Parliament for Akyem Swedru, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has criticised Ghana’s political leadership for what he describes as a lack of urgency in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
His remarks come amid persistent national concerns over the widespread environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, including the pollution of major rivers and the degradation of farmlands.
Despite years of government interventions, task force operations, and policy directives, the galamsey menace remains a major national challenge.
In a social media post on Monday, May 18, the MP suggested that the country’s slow response is tied to the economic benefits derived from gold exports.
“If the world starts blacklisting or rejecting buying our gold, the country will be serious in ending the galamsey menace,” he wrote.
He argued that only external pressure on Ghana’s gold market would compel the political class to take decisive action.
“I think that should be the only way to get the political class to deal with this existential threat once and for all,” he added.
Illegal mining continues to threaten water bodies across the country, with institutions such as the Ghana Water Company Limited occasionally shutting down treatment plants due to severe pollution.
Environmental advocates have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement and stronger political will, warning that continued degradation poses long‑term risks to public health, agriculture, and national development.