Joe Jackson
CEO of Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, has said it is troubling that the real kingpins of illegal small-scale mining (Galamsey) have not been arrested.
He made the point that if galamsey is not fought, very soon, no one would accept Ghana’s cocoa because of Galamsey.
“All the gains we are making could easily be eroded because of the illegal mining menace. Very soon, no one would accept our Cocoa because of Galamsey. Unfortunately, the kingpins are still in business,” he said on Key Points TV3 Saturday, September 13.
For his part, the CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, assured that President John Dramani Mahama is committed to the fight against illegal small-scale mining.
In the view of Mr Tameklo, declaration of a state of emergency is still an option on the table, although the president has indicated his reluctance to declare a state of emergency.
“I can assure Ghanaians that President Mahama is very committed to the galamsey fight. He is also mindful of the consequences of the declaration of a state of emergency, which still remains an option as stated by the President,” he said.
President Mahama, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, engaged a section of journalists in Accra to update the nation on his government’s work across key sectors, including efforts to tackle illegal mining and restore degraded forest reserves.
The President cited initiatives such as attaching tracking devices to excavators, deploying “blue water guards” to protect water bodies, and the creation of the GoldBod system to monitor gold exports. He also explained why the government decided to call off the Inspector-General of Police’s anti-galamsey task force.
His comment has attracted severe criticism.
For instance, a private legal practitioner, Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers, described President Mahama’s comment as a “clear disinterest” in winning the fight against galamsey.
“You have your President say it is our land that is being destroyed, so if we are making money from it that is okay. This is not okay, and his response to the few questions on galamsey is dissatisfactory. That should get us worried as Ghanaians, particularly about the negative consequences of illegal activities,” Brako-Powers told 3news.com.
Mr Brako-Powers insists these explanations do not demonstrate a clear willingness to end the menace. He argued that the government’s posture signals a lack of urgency at a time when illegal mining continues to destroy rivers, forests, and farmlands.
“Available and verified data show that government is losing the battle against illegal miners due to policy inconsistency and incoherent action, at a time when Ghanaians are yearning for decisive steps,” he stated.
The lawyer stressed that the root of the problem lies in “weak enforcement, political interference, and corruption,” factors he says have crippled efforts to deal with illegal mining in Ghana.
“These are the reasons why we are not winning the fight. If the government will work to eliminate these three issues, Ghanaians will breathe a sigh of relief,” he added.
Mr Brako-Powers further warned that government’s weak handling of the galamsey crisis risks undermining Ghana’s international commitments on climate change and sustainable development. According to him, donor partners and investors may also lose confidence in the country’s environmental governance.
“This is not just about trees and rivers; it is about our survival as a people. Once these forest reserves are gone, there is no turning back. Future generations will not forgive us,” he emphasised.
He called for a united front from civil society, traditional leaders, environmental activists, and ordinary Ghanaians to put consistent pressure on the government to treat the protection of natural resources as a national priority.
Mr Brako-Powers concluded that ending illegal mining should not be reduced to partisan rhetoric but must be pursued as an urgent matter of national survival.
Source: 3news.com