Galamsey Fight Must Be Led by Institutions, Not Politicians – Kokofu
Former EPA chief warns political leadership has repeatedly failed in tackling illegal mining
- Dr. Kokofu says politicians should not lead the fight against galamsey
- State institutions like EPA, Forestry Commission, Water Resources Commission, and Geological Survey Authority must be empowered
- Past political-led approaches have repeatedly failed to curb illegal mining
Former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has warned that the battle against illegal small-scale mining, known locally as galamsey, can only succeed if state institutions are empowered to lead, rather than politicians being at the forefront.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, December 17, Dr. Kokofu emphasized that strategies relying heavily on political leadership have consistently failed, citing both historical and recent examples.
“The current and past approaches where politicians lead the fight against galamsey have proven ineffective. It is not working. Why do we keep repeating it?” he questioned.
He recalled President John Dramani Mahama’s first term, describing it as the first major attempt by a sitting president to confront galamsey head-on, which ultimately failed due to political interference.
“Between 2012 and 2014, the inter-ministerial committee on galamsey didn’t yield results because politicians were at the center of the campaign,” he said.
Dr. Kokofu also noted some initial success under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government after 2017, but stressed that those gains were not sustained, particularly during the second term.
“The first real battle won against galamsey was under Akufo-Addo, but going forward, we lost momentum, and it became part of our ongoing problem,” he said.
Turning to the current administration, Dr. Kokofu highlighted President Mahama’s promises to adopt technology and artificial intelligence in addressing galamsey, including his earlier calls for a state of emergency while in opposition.
“One year into office, the situation has escalated. For the first time, the fight against galamsey has cost many lives, including ministers and state actors,” he warned.
He stressed that the failure to adequately resource and empower key regulatory bodies has weakened efforts to curb illegal mining.
According to Dr. Kokofu, the EPA, Water Resources Commission, Forestry Commission, and Ghana Geological Survey Authority should take the lead.
“These four institutions, if fully resourced and coordinated, can effectively lead the fight,” he said.
Dr. Kokofu concluded by cautioning against political interference, insisting that historical evidence demonstrates politicians are not effective in leading the fight against galamsey.
“Don’t put politicians there. They will never be able to do it. We have Mahama’s first term to show, we have Akufo-Addo to show, and we see it today,” he added.
