Illegal Mining in Ghana: A Collective Shame of NPP and NDC Complicity in 'Galamsey'
Illegal mining, or 'galamsey' as it is locally referred to, has become a serious issue, devastating the environment and affecting the livelihood of many. The phenomenon of galamsey in Ghana has become pronounced in recent years, with reported cases pointing toward political players across the two dominant political parties of Ghana, namely the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as fuelers of the activities of illegal mining. The resultant informal alliance is one that has fostered a deadly synergy in which the effort to counteract the crisis continues to be battered.
The Genesis of 'Galamsey' in Ghana
Galamsey has been a historical issue in Ghana since decades ago, but the situation has worsened lately. In the rural communities, particularly in mining towns in the Ashanti, Western, and Eastern Regions, gold is mined illegally without regard to safety measures or environmental protection. The industry is poorly regulated, and there is no good monitoring or compliance with laws, thus clandestine miners have a free hand.
The crisis is not just the destruction of the environment and destruction of water bodies but encompasses a deeper social problem—poverty and unemployment. The majority of the Ghanaians have resorted to galamsey as a source of livelihood because they have no or little opportunity elsewhere.
The NPP and NDC and Their Role In Relation To Galamsey
It is a sad state of affairs that the NPP and NDC have been implicated in perpetuating the illegal mining industry. While government, under both regimes, has professed to clamping down on galamsey, political patronage has often made such efforts a waste of time. Allegations that political leaders of both parties are directly benefiting from illegal mining or turning a bli isnd eye to the activity are rampant.
For the NPP, during the regime of President Akufo-Addo, efforts to deal with illegal mining saw the creation of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) in 2017. However, it quickly transpired that a number of committee members themselves were reportedly assisting in illegal mining. Particularly, certain high-ranking officers and NPP businessman allies were accused of being involved in stakes in illegal mining operations. This eroded the efforts of the committee and queried the sincerity of the initiative of the government to contain the crisis.
Similarly, the NDC under the then-President John Dramani Mahama was also alleged to have been involved in illegal mining. The galamsey issue actually took center stage under Mahama's administration, but the NDC was also alleged to have been making profits from the illegal mining activity. Reports have shown that a number of politicians and members of the party were turning a blind eye to the operations of illegal miners, and some were even accused of benefiting directly from it. The inaction taken against illegal mining at this time was one of the main causes of the exacerbation of the issue.
Political Patronage and the Perpetuation of Galamsey
The contentious alliance between NPP and NDC in its support of illegal mining is driven by political patronage. The two join the illegal mining venture allegedly as a means of generating funds for political campaigns and exerting control within local communities. In the majority of cases, politicians are said to provide protection to illegal miners in exchange for funding, either directly as cash contributions or illegal financing of political campaigns.
In mining districts, politicians use the illegal mining as a tool of maintaining political power, more so when it is election time. By doing nothing for the galamsey operations or, in other cases, even financing the enterprise, politicians gain the loyalty of the locals who live off the mining. In return, the miners offer support through the vote or with money.
The lack of political will by both NPP and NDC to bring an end to illegal mining has led to the situation that the issue persists, in spite of several assurances and policy statements from both sides. The proscription of small-scale mining in 2017 and the subsequent efforts by both governments to clamp down on illegal miners have not worked, largely due to the lack of political accountability.
Environmental Footprint and Societal Consequences
The ecological footprint of the illegal mining activities is devastating. Forests are being destroyed, rivers are getting polluted with mercury and other dangerous chemicals, and whole ecosystems are being destroyed. In addition to this, the pollution of the water bodies has effects on people who rely on these resources as a source of drinking water, agriculture, and fishing.
Social impact is equally desperate. Galamsey operations promote child labor because most children participate in mining work. The craving for quick wealth tends to ensnare the children, as they are assigned work in harmful environments, against the law regulating labor. Illegal mining also deteriorates law and order in areas where mining operates because the miners often engage in savage confrontations over land and resources.
Conclusion
NPP and NDC politicians' political patronage in illegal mining has aggravated the galamsey issue in Ghana. Their complicity and patronage of the illegal mining business have crushed hopes that proper solutions would be found. Both parties have made promises to end the menace, but their inability or refusal to address the political corruption, lack of enforcement, and weak regulation that form the basis of galamsey has seen the harmful and destructive malady reign unchecked.
Ultimately, the battle against galamsey is not just about confronting illegal miners but also confronting the systemic corruption and political patronage that have kept the issue alive. If Ghana is going to see any meaningful change in stopping illegal mining, there must be political will and accountability on the part of both the NPP and NDC, along with united efforts to enforce the laws and protect the country's environment. Absent this, the ruinous impact of galamsey will haunt Ghan
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nd eye to the activity are rampant.
a forever for generations to come.
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