Ghana’s struggle to contain illegal small-scale mining, known locally as galamsey, has drawn sharp criticism from civil society leaders following a major security operation in the Western Region.
On April 15, a joint task force from the Forestry Commission and Armed Forces raided Abrewa Ninkrane, a hidden settlement within the Subri Forest Reserve, torching makeshift camps and equipment used by miners suspected to be foreign nationals from Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
The operation aimed to halt environmental destruction in the reserve, where hundreds of hectares of forest have been decimated by unchecked mining.
Senyo Hosi, Convener of the advocacy group One Ghana Movement, delivered a stark assessment during an April 19 appearance on TV3’s Key Points, declaring Ghana a “failing state” due to the proliferation of armed galamsey networks. “How can foreign nationals establish an unmapped community on our soil? This is a national security threat,” Hosi argued, demanding accountability for lapses that allowed the enclave to operate undetected. He called for ruthless measures against miners who reportedly open fire on security personnel, stressing, “The president must take this matter head-on and not fail us.”
The raid exposed alarming details about the scale of illegal activity. Western Regional Forestry Manager Nana Kwabena Bosompim estimated over 10,000 miners occupied the site, far exceeding initial projections of 2,000. The enclave featured functional hubs with wooden brothels and shelters doubling as commercial centers, underscoring the trade’s entrenchment. Bosompim warned miners to vacate protected areas or face prosecution, adding that security forces would remain stationed there for two weeks to deter resurgence. “Young girls abandon education for prostitution here. This cycle must end,” he said, highlighting the crisis’s social fallout.
While the government has vowed action, skepticism persists. National Petroleum Authority CEO Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, speaking on the same program, acknowledged public frustration but urged patience, framing galamsey as a legacy issue requiring sustained effort. “The Forestry Commission knew about this settlement,” he said, expressing confidence in President John Mahama’s commitment to curbing the menace.
Ghana, Africa’s second-largest gold producer, has long grappled with illegal mining’s dual impact: ravaged ecosystems and compromised livelihoods. Despite periodic crackdowns, enforcement remains stymied by corruption, limited resources, and the involvement of transnational networks. The Abrewa Ninkrane operation highlights the delicate balance between ecological preservation and economic survival, with impoverished communities often lured into the trade.
As debates over governance and security intensify, the incident underscores a pressing need for systemic reforms. Military raids alone cannot resolve a crisis rooted in socioeconomic inequities and weak oversight. Sustainable solutions will require formalizing artisanal mining, strengthening border controls, and addressing the desperation driving both locals and migrants into the illicit trade. For now, the charred remnants of Abrewa Ninkrane serve as a grim reminder of the stakes a nation’s natural heritage hangs in the balance, demanding urgent, multifaceted action.
