Environmental (Commonwealth Union)_ In Ghana, a country rich in natural resources, the illegal gold mining trade known as galamsey has wreaked havoc on the environment, turning lush forests and once-pristine rivers into polluted wastelands. The crisis has grown so severe that the water from one of the country’s major rivers, the Pra River, has become so contaminated with mining runoff that it’s now unrecognizable. Ghanaian artist Israel Derrick Apeti, better known by his artistic alias Enil Art, decided to highlight this environmental devastation by using the polluted water itself as paint.
“I could actually paint with the water. It was so bad,” Apeti told the BBC. He traveled to the river, located around 200 kilometers west of Accra, to demonstrate the extent of the damage. The river, once clear enough to see the fish and crocodiles that lived within it, has turned murky, yellowish-brown as a result of the toxic byproducts of illegal gold mining.
The practice of galamsey, which translates from local dialects to mean “gather them and sell,” has exploded across Ghana in recent years. Illegal miners have ravaged forests, destroyed cocoa farms, and contaminated rivers, all in the relentless pursuit of gold. Once a small-scale activity using basic tools like picks and shovels, the illegal mining industry has transformed into a sophisticated and highly destructive operation. This shift is largely due to the involvement of foreign investors, particularly Chinese businessmen, who have brought in heavy machinery and industrial techniques, drastically increasing the scale of mining and environmental destruction.
Mercury contamination is one of the most pressing issues tied to illegal mining. Miners frequently use mercury to extract gold from the soil, which then washes into rivers during the mining process. The toxic effects of mercury are long-lasting Dr. George Manful, a former senior official with Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency, explained that mercury can remain in water for up to 1,000 years. It accumulates in fish and other aquatic life, posing a serious threat to the health of local communities that rely on rivers for water and food.
Beyond health risks, illegal mining’s environmental degradation is also threatening Ghana’s agricultural sector. Particularly affected are cocoa farms, the backbone of the country’s economy. Illegal miners have destroyed more than 19,000 hectares of farmland in some regions, leading to a significant decline in cocoa production, according to the Ghana Cocoa Board. Without intervention, Ghana risks losing its standing as one of the world’s leading cocoa producers.
The destruction has sparked public outrage. In recent weeks, demonstrators have taken to the streets of Accra to demand that the government take swift action to halt illegal mining activities. Protestors organized under the hashtags #stopgalamseynow and #freethecitizens, raising awareness across social media and rallying support from Ghanaians abroad, particularly in the UK and Canada. Despite the protests, the government’s response has been sluggish, with critics accusing officials of turning a blind eye due to the political influence of wealthy individuals involved in the illegal mining trade.
At the heart of the government’s challenge is the complex relationship between illegal mining and local politics. Many powerful businessmen and politicians are alleged to have profited from galamsey, purchasing cocoa farms and converting them into illegal mining sites. In some cases, farmers have reported being coerced into selling their land through intimidation tactics such as having their footpaths dug up, making it impossible to continue farming.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has faced growing criticism for his handling of the crisis. When he first took office in 2017, he promised to tackle the issue head-on, vowing to reclaim the land and restore Ghana’s rivers. However, after nearly two terms in office, many believe the problem has worsened under his watch. Despite the government’s claims that it has arrested hundreds of illegal miners and seized equipment, the destruction of Ghana’s environment continues unabated.
The long-term impact of illegal mining is not just a local issue; it’s a global one. Ghana is one of the world’s largest gold exporters, and much of the illegally mined gold is smuggled out of the country to international markets, particularly in China, India, and the United Arab Emirates. Once in international markets, smugglers mix the gold with legal sources and sell it as refined gold, thereby complicating the traceability of its illicit origins. The high price of gold on the global market has further fueled the demand for the precious metal, incentivizing illegal miners to keep digging.
Despite the grim outlook, there is hope. Artists like Apeti, along with musicians such as Black Sherif and Stonebwoy, are using their platforms to raise awareness and inspire change. Recently, President Akufo-Addo ordered the deployment of naval boats to patrol major rivers and prevent further mining, but many are skeptical that this will be enough to curb the illegal industry.
The galamsey crisis is not just an environmental disaster; it’s an economic and social one as well. Without immediate and effective action, Ghana risks losing not only its natural resources but also its future. As the global demand for gold shows no signs of slowing, the fight to protect the country’s environment is more urgent than ever.
