Asantehene: Corruption, Politics Undermining Galamsey Fight
Traditional ruler calls for urgent and sustained action to combat environmental degradation caused by illegal mining
- Corruption and political missteps are crippling the fight against illegal mining
- Galamsey is causing severe environmental damage to water bodies and forests
- Asantehene urges urgent, unified action and praises Gold4Oil as a promising step
Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has issued a stark warning about the persistent challenges thwarting Ghana’s battle against illegal mining, locally known as ‘galamsey’.
Speaking at the Global Mining Summit in Accra on June 2, the monarch blamed deep-rooted corruption and political missteps as key reasons for the continued failure to curb the destructive practice.
He emphasized that despite repeated governmental interventions, the fight against galamsey remains largely ineffective due to systemic issues. The Asantehene highlighted the alarming environmental toll—including polluted rivers, deforestation, and widespread land degradation—as a looming threat to Ghana’s future.
“The unchecked pollution of our water bodies and the devastation of our natural resources is unacceptable,” he said.
“The combination of regulatory breakdowns, corruption, and political misjudgment has significantly weakened our response to this crisis.”
Calling for bold and consistent action, he urged stakeholders to reassess policies and strategies to effectively combat illegal mining.
On a more optimistic note, the Asantehene praised the government’s Gold for Oil (Gold4Oil) initiative, describing it as a promising development for the mining sector.
He noted that the program, along with the emergence of the Goldbod platform, could attract new investments and enhance production levels.
“These initiatives mark a fresh and innovative direction for the industry, offering real potential to transform challenges into opportunities,” he remarked.
