Galamsey: 'Extremists can infiltrate northern Ghana' — UDS Professor warns

A Professor of Environment and Sustainability Science at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor Ebenezer Owusu-Sekyere, has raised concerns over the involvement of foreign nationals in illegal mining activities in the Savannah Region, warning that the situation could create security risks for Ghana.

He said most people engaged in or financing galamsey in the region were foreigners, making it necessary for authorities to strengthen monitoring of mining sites.

Presenting his findings at the launch of the Three Gold for Good Baseline Studies, Professor Owusu-Sekyere called for the introduction of real-time records of individuals working at mining locations to help security agencies monitor their activities.

He said the issue required urgent attention, particularly because the Savannah Region shares borders with Burkina Faso, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, and is close to areas where extremist groups operate.

“Galamsey is real but the risks far outweigh the economic interest, especially those of us in the north.

“I keep emphasising the north because we know how the north border’s Burkina Faso, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire and so it is possible that extremists can infiltrate especially because the foreign miners up north will not speak to me during data gathering. We really need to think twice.”

He stressed that the potential security implications of illegal mining in northern Ghana should not be overlooked in the pursuit of its economic benefits.