NDC's galamsey fight falls short of opposition promises, says media watchdog chief

The Media Foundation for West Africa has raised serious concerns about the Mahama administration's progress in combating illegal mining, with its Executive Director Sulemana Braimah arguing that the government has failed to match the urgency of its opposition-era pledges against galamsey.

Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile on 31 October, Mr Braimah expressed disappointment rather than a sense of betrayal, highlighting the gap between the NDC's campaign messaging and its current implementation. He emphasised that while the scale of galamsey's environmental damage—including water pollution, forest destruction, and road collapse—remains undeniable, the government's response has not reflected the seriousness the crisis demands.

Cooperative mining scheme stalled

A central pillar of the government's galamsey strategy is the proposed cooperative mining arrangement, designed to organise small-scale miners into regulated groups as an alternative to illegal operations. However, progress has been sluggish. According to Mr Braimah, as of October 2024, only 11 cooperative groups had been established—a figure he described as inadequate given nearly two years in office and millions of people engaged in mining.

The MFWA chief stressed that the government must move beyond policy announcements and deliver concrete implementation. Without visible progress on cooperatives and other interventions, credibility on the galamsey issue remains at risk.

Mr Braimah also pointed to ongoing illegal mining along the Black Volta and referenced a government document listing 42 communities affected by mining activities, including instances of mining operations occurring inside buildings and rooms. These details underscore the depth and persistence of the problem despite official commitments.

Economic realities and the path forward

A critical factor often overlooked in galamsey discourse is the economic desperation driving participation. Mr Braimah acknowledged that millions of young Ghanaians depend on mining—legally or illegally—for survival. Simply removing people from mining sites without providing alternatives is neither feasible nor humane.

Instead, he advocated for a structured, organised approach: bringing miners into regulated cooperative groups, enforcing responsible mining practices, and giving authorities greater oversight. This would balance enforcement with economic reality and create pathways for livelihoods within a formalised system.

Why it matters for Ghana

Galamsey remains one of Ghana's most pressing environmental crises. Illegal mining pollutes drinking water, destroys arable land, and destabilises entire ecosystems. The phenomenon also fuels youth unemployment narratives and intersects with broader governance questions—if a government cannot deliver on a flagship campaign promise, public trust erodes.

The MFWA's critique is significant because it comes from a respected civil society voice independent of partisan politics. The accountability it demands reflects growing public frustration. For Ghanaians facing water scarcity, communities grappling with contaminated sources, and young people seeking genuine alternatives to mining, the pace of government action will determine whether galamsey is meaningfully addressed or merely managed at its current destructive levels.

Mr Braimah's emphasis on complexity and the need for sustained commitment is apt: solving galamsey requires not just political will, but coordinated strategy, realistic timelines, and acknowledgment of the economic drivers behind illegal mining. The NDC's challenge is to translate its opposition rhetoric into demonstrable results before public patience—and the environment itself—reaches a breaking point.